ውድ ኢትዮጵያውያውያን አስተውሉ! አሜሪካውያን በቀጣዩ አመት ማይክሮ ቺፕ ሊገጠምላቸው ነው

ውድ ኢትዮጵያውያውያን አስተውሉ!.ከዚህ በፊት ስለ ማይክሮችፕ ሰፋ ባለ ሁኔታ ጽፌላችሁዋለሁ።አሁን ደግሞ ይህ ዜና ይፋ ሆኖዋል።
ይህ ዜና ይፋ የሆነው ከ2 ቀናት በፊት ነው።ዘገባው የ NBC ሲሆን፤NBCን ጠቅሶ የአገራችን ሚዲያ ፋና እንዲህ ዘግቦታል።
"አሜሪካውያን በቀጣዩ አመት ማይክሮ ቺፕ ሊገጠምላቸው ነው አዲስ አበባ ፣ ግንቦት 18 ፣ 2008 (ኤፍ ቢ ሲ ወይም ፋና ብሮድካስቲንግ ኮርፖሬሽን ) " አሜሪካ በቀጣዩ አመት ሁሉም ዜጎቿ እጅ ላይ ማይክሮ ችፕ ልትገጥም ነው። ይህ የሚሆነው የዜጎችን ደህንነት ለማረጋገጥና እያንዳንዱን እንቅስቃሴ ለመቆጣጠር ነው እየተባለ ነው። የማይክሮ ችፕ ገጠማው በቀኝ እጅ ላይ የሚከናወን ሲሆን፥ ተጠቃሚው በመሳሪያው አማካኝነት መገበያየት፣ መግዛት፣ ገንዘብ መላክ እና ሌሎችን ነገሮች ማድረግ ይችላል ተብሏል። በአጋጣሚ መንገድ የወጣ ሰው ገንዘብ ባይኖረው እና ችግር ቢያጋጥመው እንኳን፥ መሳሪያው ስለተገጠመለት የተሰጠውን የአይ ፒ አድራሻ በማስመዝገብ የፈለገውን መግዛትና መገብየት ይችላል ነው የተባለው። ቀጠን ያለ የሩዝ ፍሬ የሚያክል መጠን ያለው መሳሪያ የተገጠመለት ሰው እያንዳንዱ እንቅስቃሴም በመንግስት ቁጥጥር ስር እንደሚሆን ኤን ቢ ሲ ኒውስ የሰራው ዘገባ ያሳያል። በተለያዩ ግዛቶች ተዘዋውሮ በተሰራው በዚህ ዘገባ፥ መሳሪያው ከጨቅላ ህጻናት እስከ አዋቂዎች ከዚህ አልፎም በእንስሳት ላይ እንደሚገጠም ያሳያል። ይህም የዜጎችን እንቅስቃሴ መቆጣጠር እና ብሎም የሚጠፉ ህጻናትን ለመከታተል ያስችላል ብለዋል በኤን ቢ ሲ አስተያየታቸውን የሰጡ ባለሙያዎች እና የቴክኖሎጂው ተጠቃሚዎች። “ለስራ ከቤት ስወጣ አሳሳቢ የሚሆንብኝ የልጆቸ ጉዳይ በዚህ ቴክኖሎጅ ይቀረፋል” ብላለች የቴክኖሎጂው ተጠቃሚ የሆነች እናት። እንደ እርሷ ገለጻ በልጆቿ ላይ የሚገጠመው
ቴክኖሎጅ የእነርሱን አጠቃላይ ውሎ መከታተል ስለሚያስችል ከክፉ ነገር የራቁ ናቸው፤ እናም ወድጀዋለሁ ብላለች። ከዚህ ባለፈም ህገ ወጥ እንቅስቃሴንና እንደ ሽብር ያሉ አለም አቀፍ ስጋቶችን ቀድሞ መለየት እና መከላከል የዚህ መሳሪያ አላማ መሆኑም ተገልጿል። ይህ ቴክኖሎጅ እንደ ችካጎ ባሉ ግዛቶች በርካታ ተጠቃሚዎች ሲኖሩት፥ በቨርጅኒያ ግን እንዳይተገበር ቅስቀሳ ተጀምሯል። ምክንያቱ ደግሞ “የምናደርገው እንቅስቃሴም ሆነ የዕለት ተዕለት ውሎ እና አለፍ ሲልም የጤናችን ሁኔታ በዚህ መሳሪያ ክትትል መደረጉ ምቾት አይሰጠንም” በማለት።

ከዚህ ባለፈ “ምናልባትም መንግስት ታዛዥ አይደሉም ብሎ ያሰባቸውን ሰዎች፥ በዚህ ቴክኖሎጅ አማካኝነት የመቅጣት አቅም አለው” ሲሉም ሃሳባቸውን ሰንዝረዋል። ያም ሆነ ይህ ግን እያንዳንዱ አሜሪካዊ ወደደም ጠላም ይህን መሳሪያ በቀጣዩ አመት ማስገጠምና፥ በልዩ ክትትል መኖር
ግዴታው ነው ተብሏል። ይህ ማይክሮ ችፕ በ10 አመታት ውስጥ በተለያዩ የአለማችን ክፍሎች እንደሚገጠምም ባለሙያዎች ተናግረዋል።
በኦባማ ኬር አማካኝነት የተዘጋጀው ማይክሮ ችፕ ዝግጅቱ ሙሉ በሙሉ ያለቀ ሲሆን፥ ከወራት በኋላ አሜሪካውያን እጃቸው ላይ ያስገጥሙታል።.... መረጃው የኤን ቢ ሲ ኒውስ ነው።"ይላል ዜናው።
ውድ ኢትዮጵያውያን እናስተውል!እናመዛዝን!ከላይ ያየነው ዜና ዘመኑን ጠብቆ እንደሚከሰት በመጽሐፍ ቅዱስ ቀድሞ ተነግሮናል። ያውም ግልጽ በሆነ ቁዋንቁዋ!ይህን ጉዳይ በሚመለከት የተወሰኑ ክፍሎችን ከመጽሐፍ ቅዱስ እንይ። " በአውሬውም ፊት ያደርግ ዘንድ ከተሰጡት ምልክቶች የተነሣ በምድር የሚኖሩትን ያስታል፤ የሰይፍም ቍስል ለነበረውና በሕይወት ለኖረው ለአውሬው ምስልን እንዲያደርጉ በምድር የሚኖሩትን ይናገራል።" (የዮሐንስ ራእይ 13:14)
" የአውሬው ምስል ሊናገር እንኳ ለአውሬውም ምስል የማይሰግዱለትን ሁሉ ሊያስገድላቸው፥ ለአውሬው ምስል ትንፋሽ እንዲሰጠው ተሰጠው።"
(የዮሐንስ ራእይ 13:15)
" ታናናሾችና ታላላቆችም ባለ ጠጋዎችና ድሆችም ጌታዎችና ባሪያዎችም ሁሉ በቀኝ እጃቸው ወይም በግምባራቸው ምልክትን እንዲቀበሉ፥"
(የዮሐንስ ራእይ 13:16)
" የአውሬውም ስም ወይም የስሙ ቍጥር ያለው ምልክት የሌለበት ማንም ሊገዛ ወይም ሊሸጥ እንዳይችል ያደርጋል። ጥበብ በዚህ አለ።"
(የዮሐንስ ራእይ 13:17)
ውድ ኢትዮጵያውያን!ዛሬ አሜሪካ ነገ ኢትዮጵያ እንደሚሆን ግልጽ ነው።የዓለም መንግስታት ይህን ማይክሮችፕ መግጠም የፈለጉት እንደሚባለው ስልጡን አሰራር ለመጀመር ሳይሆን ህዝቡን ሁሉ ጠቅልለው ለአውሬው ለማስገዛት ነው።የመጥፊያው ዘመን መድረሱን ሲያውቅ ሰይጣን ያዘዛቸውን እየተገበሩ ነው።ይህ ይሆን ዘንድ ግድ ነው።አማኝ ህዝብም ለመጨረሻ ጊዜ በዚህ ይፈተናል።ስለዚህ ምልክት የነገረን ፈጣሪም የምልክቱ ተቀባዮችና እራሱ አውሬው እንዴት እንደሚጠፉ አብሮ ነግሮናል።የምናምን የበለጠ ወደ አምላካችን የምንጠጋበት፤የማናምን እንደ አዲስ አማኝ መሆን የምንጀምርበት ጊዜ አሁን ነው።ምክንያቱም ታላላቅ የሚባሉ የዓለም መሪዎች በዓለም ህዝብ ላይ ማይክሮችፕ የመግጠም ሂደት መጀመራቸው ብቻውን የአምላክን ቃል ፍጹምነት አረጋጋጭ ነውና።ይህ ዘመን ብዙዎቻችን ተንተርሰነው የኖርነውን መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ የምንገልጥበት ዘመን መሆን ይኖርበታል።
በፈጣሪ ለምናምን ሁሉ የህይወት ማንዋል ይሆነን ዘንድ ከአምላክ የተሰጠንን ቅዱስ መጽሐፍ የምንገልጥበት ዘመን ሊሆን ይገባል።ማይክሮ ችፕ ማለት የአውሬው ምልክት ሲሆን፤ያን የተቀበለ ሁሉ ከአሳቹ ሰይጣን የፍጻሜ ዘመን ጋር አብሮ ወደዘላለማዊው የእሳት ባህር ይጣላል!ማናችንም በፈጣሪ ህልውና የምናምን ሁሉ ነገሩ በግድ እንኩዋን ቢሆን መቀበል የለብንም።ምክንያቱም ስጋን ስለሚያጠፉ መንግስታትና አዛዣቸው የሆነውን ሳጥናኤልን ሳይሆን ነብስንም ስጋንም ስለሚያጠፋው ነው ቅዱስ አምላክ ነው ማሰብ ያለብን።በህያው ደም የተገዛን የአምላክ ገንዘቦች ነንና ለክፉው መንፈስ መገዛትም መስገድም የለብንም።ሰይጣን ተስፋ የለውም፤ነገር ግን ተስፋ አይቆርጥም ይባላል።እውነት ነው ።የመጥፊያው ዘመን እንደደረሰ ያውቃል። ስለዚህ በፈጣሪ አምሳል የተፈጠሩትን ሰዎች አጥፍቶ መጥፋት የመጨረሻ ግቡ ነው።ስለዚህ ልንስት አይገባም።መጽሐፍ ቅዱስ ሰማይና።ምድር ያልፋሉ፤-ቃሌ ግን አያልፍም ይላል።ይህን የፈተና ዘመን ጸንቶ ማለፍ መቻል የዘላለም ህይወትን መርጦ ፍጹም ከሆነው አምላክ ጋር መሆን ማለት ነው።በዚህ የሳተና ማይክሮችፕ የተቀበለ ግን እድል ፈንታው ከክፉው መንፈስ ጋር ይሆናል ማለት ነው።ምርጫው ደግሞ ለኛ የተተወ ነው።ማይክሮችን በሚመለከት ማንም ስለዘመናዊነቱና ስለ ምቾቱ ስለ ቀልጣፋ አሰራርና ስለ ስለ አስደናቂ የቴክኖሎጂ ውጤትነቱ ሊያብራራልን ይችላል።ነገር ግን እውነታው ባለሙያዎች የሚሉት ሳይሆን እግዚአብሔር ያለው ብቻ ነው!ይህን የተቀበለ ሙሉ ማንነቱን አስተሳሰቡን ጭምር ለክፉው መንፈስ አስረክቦ ህልውናውንም ህይወቱንም ሁሉንም ያጣ ሆነ ማለት ነው። ሌሎች የሚያዙበት እቃ ወይም በድን ሆነ ማለት ነው።ማይክሮ ችፕ የተገጠመበትን ሰው ልክ እንደ ኮምፒውተር ባለበት ሻት ዳውን ማድረግ/ማጥፋት/እጅግ ቀላል ስራ ይሆናል ።ነገር ግን ወደ ዋናው አሰራር እስኪገቡ ድረስ የተገጠመባቸው ሰዎች በህይወታቸው ላይ ቅንጣት አደጋ እንዳልደረሰባቸው ለማሳየት ሲባል ብዙ ዘዴዎችን ሊጠቀሙ ተዘጋጅተዋል።ምስክርነት የሚሰጡና ስለ ጥቅሙ የሚተነትኑ፣ከተገጠመላቸው በሁዋላ ህይወታቸው እንዳማረ ፣ነገሮች ቀላል እንደሆኑላቸው የሚመሰክሩ በርካታ ሰዎች ተዘጋጅተዋል።እኛ ግን መስማት ያለብን የአምላካችን ቃል ብቻ ነው።በየትኛውም ዘመን ወደ አገራችን አሰራሩ ይምጣ፤ለመሞት መዘጋጀት እንጂ መቀበል የለብንም።የምድር ህይወት ዘላለማዊ አይደለም።ዛሬ ታይቶ ነገ የሚጠፋ ባዶ ነገር ነው።ክፉው መንፈስም ቴክኖለጅውም የዓለም መሪዎችም እራሱ ሳጥናኤልና ተከታይ ጭፍሮቹ እንዲሁም የምድር መንግስታት ያልፋሉ።የፈጠረን አምላክ ግን አያልፍም።ስለዚህ እነሱ ስላመኑበትና መሆን አለበት ስላሉ ብቻ ልክ ናቸው ብለን አምነን ወይም ፈርተን ልንቀበል አይገባም።ማይክሮችፕን ከአውሬው ምልክት ጋር ምንም ግንኙነት የለውም ብለው የሚያስተምሩንን የሐይማኖት መሪዎችም ልንሰማቸው አይገባም።
ሼር ይደረግ። Read more here

Gift of Ethiopia to the World

OPINIONBy Mekonnen Hailu

An overwhelming number of people dream of receiving a bunch of beautiful and fragrant Ethiopia's roses from their beloved whenever Valentine's Day or other special occasions draw close. If you are lucky, you will, of course, receive one bunch.

Ethiopia is one of the world's foremost producers and exporters of flowers to the international market. The country has made a remarkable achievement in Floriculture Export Development sector in a course of a decade time.

Ethiopia ranks 5th in supplying cut flowers to the global market next to the Netherlands, Ecuador, Kenya and Colombia, according to the recent information secured from the International Trade Center (ITC). Ethiopia's roses and summer flowers are more popular in European market. Norway, USA, Saudi Arabia, Japan,United Arab Emirates are also the major market destinations.

Of the total 135 horticulture companies operating in Ethiopia, 90 foreign and local companies are engaged in the floriculture export development sector. Following the dramatic growth of the industry, the country has so far an opportunity of hosting six International Floriculture and Horticulture Trade Exhibitions.

For instance, the HortiFlora Ethiopia Expo 2015, which was held in Addis Ababa at millennium hall, has not faded away from the memory of most of the growers and potential buyers. In the International expo over 100 companies and more than 1,500 trade visitors had participated.

The International Expo was very impressive and had helped in showcasing the huge potential of the country in the floriculture sector. Several attendees were big buyers from Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America. It can be said that the Ethiopian Government by putting a lot of emphasis on the development of the Ethiopian Floriculture and Horticulture Industry-takes the higher portion of the credit of this enormous achievement.

The floriculture industry is booming and the country is now the second largest supplier and exporter of high quality flowers from Africa. In 2014/15 budget year, Ethiopia had secured 249 million USD from the horticulture export sector.

It was flowers that made up the biggest share amounting 203 million USD. The revenue was secured from the sale of 702 million stems of cuttings and 45 thousand tons of roses and summer flowers. The floriculture sector is continuously growing from year to year. This budget year, more specifically during the course of the last six months, for instance, the sector has registered 18 percent growth in revenue compared to the same period last year.

The secret behind the success of the floriculture export industry is that the country is endowed with natural resources such as fertile soil, vast water resource and excellent climate suitable for agriculture. Besides,the prevailing investment environment, attractive incentives packages, abundant labour and the proximity to an international airport in relation to the location of the flower farms are other determinant factors that make Ethiopia more successful in the sector.

As Ethiopia exports high quality flowers, internationally renowned personalities have began to prefer Ethiopian flowers for decorating their wedding ceremony with our roses. A case in point, last year the Swedish Royal family had adorned their wedding ceremony with Ethiopia's magnificent flowers.

To sum up, the beautiful and fragrant flowers are invaluable gifts Ethiopia proffer to the world on such celebrations like Valentine Day.

Mekonnen Hailu is  EHDA, Head of Public Relations Office.

Contextualizing Change Leadership in Ethiopia

ANALYSISBy Ayana Getnet Adella

In the globalizing world, change leadership bring about access to several advantages. Change leadership is an instrument of exploiting global changes for a nation's or an organization's progress. It is about alerting groups to the need for changes in the way things done, mobilizing, and energizing groups and utilizing the potential and capacity of the nation fully (John, 2009).

The leader and the style of leadership required in a sustained organization/nation differs from that which is required in a nation under threat (John Wiley & Sons L., 2013). The logical consequences of change leadership is the application of changes through experience in the accommodation of environmental analysis. This could happen in any nation to withstand competition and globalization. Our nation should not only be striving to initiate and create investors and micro and small enterprises, but it has to come up with competitive products which have value in global markets.

This can be done through the most efficient and effective leaders with dynamic mind to utilize different technology and knowledge from the environment as well as the organization (John Wiley & Sons I., 2005).

As part of the globalized world, the need for change leadership is considered one effective instrument in accelerating the war on poverty and democratization in Ethiopia. The government has held extensive discussions on the approach and the system of change leadership and has made decisions to designing approaches to change leadership. (Michael, 2009). These approaches are designed in line with the democratic process of the country. The democratic process of change leadership in the country involve in the application of succession planning process of the youth and in building their capacity through the transfer of experience from senior or experienced leaders (Michael, 2009).

According to Quinn (2004), leadership is about moving forward in faith, and requires head, heart and courage. It is clear that without courage, we tend to live in our heads and leave our hearts behind. This makes it difficult for creating one political and societal community in a country.

The underlining international principles in the application of change leadership are usually reflected in the leading party. The government has taken measures in changing of structures and systems to have clear and committed leadership (Mered, August 2009). Building sustainable organization is related to building the culture of organizational identity and system, process and realities. (Black, 2003). Therefore, change leadership is related to the commitment of political leadership and the clear understanding of the technocrat of the system of government.

The government's change leadership approach

Successful change is driven by the people's need and environmental challenges. The major issues of change leadership are mainly the concern of the top leadership's commitment. According to Kotter (1996), change leadership should start with establishing a sense of urgency, which is crucial to get the needed cooperation for high complacency in transforming all people in the country. This is true in our country to understand the severe poverty of the country in the contexts of Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), development of policy, regulation and rules in the government democratic apparatus and the direct participation of the people. The government uses different techniques such as meetings, press conferences, workshops, media, and other types of media and communication mechanisms to create equal understanding and awareness among citizens.

To raise the level of urgency, the government shows the major loss in financial saving compared to competitors, provide obvious examples in change management system applications in the world, the change in increased revenue, productivity, customer satisfaction and cycle time targets to get the products or services. The change radically insists that people to be held accountable for the broader measure of business performance.

The level of urgency for change in the nation is shown in the feelings of unsatisfied customers, unhappy suppliers, and disgruntled stakeholders. The top level management of the nation should also create honest discussion about the problems in different media outlets, and provide the people with ample information on future opportunities, and wonderful rewards. The government also need to show the current inability of the nations to dig up those opportunities (P. Kotter, 1996). These all methods are implemented by Ethiopian Government change leadership approaches.

The second step in leading change in a nation is by creating the guiding coalition. The major transformation in change leadership is highly associated with individual's practical involvement with their full hearts and minds. To amass highly energetic people, the government should be able to communicate the mission and vision of the nation and the strategic direction put in place to achieve them (P. Kotter, 1996). The top leadership and its apparatus should talk the same language in speeding up market and the technological change. The government's decision making process also considers today's business environment such as selections of strategic alternatives and the development of new processes (P. Kotter, 1996). This can be effective, when the change leadership of the guiding coalition is able to take position power, expertise power, credibility and leadership in to consideration (Dixon, 2007).

The third most important issue is creating clear vision. A clear vision can help everyone understand why you are asking them to do something. When people see for themselves what you are trying to achieve, then the directives they are given tend to make more sense in determining the values, develop a short summary (one or two sentences) that captures what you "see" as the future of your organization, create a strategy to execute that vision, ensure that your change coalition can describe the vision in five minutes or less and practice your "vision speech" often (P. Kotter, 1996).

The government designed the nation's vision to defeating poverty and clarify it to the people as shown clearly in the GTP. The plan was also discussed with the people so that they take it as their own and contribute their part to its successful implementation. The plan is conceived at the top level but it is practised or implemented at lower levels. This process enables the people to talk about and clearly understand what the government is set to do. This shows that change leadership is key in the implementation of the plan to realized change.

The other factor in the implementation of change leadership is removing obstacles for change. It requires to putting in place the structure for change, and continually check for barriers to it. Removing obstacles can empower the people you need to execute your vision, and it can help the change move forward. In removing the obstacles, leaders identify, or hire, change leaders whose main roles are to deliver the change, look at the organizational structure, job descriptions, and performance and compensation systems to ensure they are in line with the vision, recognize and reward people for making change happen, identify people who are resisting the change, and help them see what is needed and take action to quickly remove barriers such as human or otherwise (Black, 2003).

Anchoring the changes in Corporate Culture is the final tool of change leadership implementation. The corporate culture often determines what gets done, so the values behind the vision must be shown in day-to-day work. It is also important to making continuous efforts to ensure that the change is seen in every aspect of the organization.

This will help give that change a solid place in the organization's culture. It is also important that the country's leaders continue to support the change. This includes existing staff and new leaders who are brought in. If one loses the support of these people, you might end up back where you started. In addition, talking about progress whenever the chance to do so is available is also essential.

Tell success stories about the change process, and repeat other stories that you hear and include the change ideals and values when hiring and training new staff. Publicly recognize key members of your original change coalition, and make sure the rest of the staff - new and old - remembers their contributions. Create plans to replace key leaders of change as they move on. This will help ensure that their legacy is not lost or forgotten (Dawson, 2010). The government tries to incorporate the new culture of change through different media.

The people has got the training through formal education and informal meetings to apply the change. The government's commitment and support should inspire large number of people need to create new businesses as entrepreneurs improving their income in particular and the growth of the country in general.

 Researcher, consultant and trainer on change management and leadership (FDRE Ministry of Defence)

Make Peaceful Change Impossible? Make Violent Revolution Inevitable!

Ethiopia: Make Peaceful Change Impossible? Make Violent Revolution Inevitable!

By Alemayehu G. Mariam

In December 2015, there is only one question that is uppermost in the mind of every Ethiopian:

Will the Thugtatorship of the Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (T-TPLF) kill, massacre, slaughter, murder and unleash a campaign of bloodbath and bloodshed to cling to power in Ethiopia?

Most regretfully, the answer is in the affirmative.

For the past 24 years, the T-TPLF had every opportunity for peaceful change in the country.

At every juncture of peace and reconciliation, at every turn of political engagement and accommodation, at every twist of democratization and at every election, the T-TPLF has not missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

For the past 24 years, the T-TPLF made peaceful change impossible in Ethiopia.

Today, the T-TPLF has made violent revolution inevitable, unavoidable and inescapable!

In December 2015, the people of Ethiopia passed the tipping point between peaceful change and violent revolution.

In December 2015, the people of Ethiopia crossed the Rubicon, the point of no return.

The fact that they have crossed the point of no return is plain in their articulated hatred of the T-TPLF as a criminal organization that represents no one but its corrupt and murderous leaders, cronies and servile elites that feed at its trough.

The point of no return is manifest in the fact that the people of Ethiopia no longer fear the T-TPLF.

The people know the T-TPLF, hiding under the skirt of its international donors and loaners and and armed to the teeth with all the weapons of war, is not much more than a cackle of hyenas against lion-hearted Ethiopians.

The people are openly defying the T-TPLF.

They are openly demanding structural reform.

They are openly and massively agitating and mobilizing for the removal of the T-TPLF from power.

The point of no return is evident in the determination of the people that the T-TPLF must be removed by any means necessary.

The fuse connected to the powder keg on which the T-TPLF is sitting is lit. It is a very short fuse. The only question is when the fuse will reach the powder keg to ignite a fire.

The T-TPLF started a fire that has been burning in the hearts of all Ethiopians for nearly 25 years.

The T-TPLF today thinks it can stomp out the fire of popular uprising by killing and massacring children and young adults who articulate and present their grievances in peaceful protests.

The T-TPLF thinks it can the defeat and delay the people’s sense of the fierce urgency of now by promising to clean up its act tomorrow, next week and next year.

Last week, Human Rights Watch reported:

Police and military forces have fired on demonstrations, killing at least 75 protesters and wounding many others… The Ethiopian government’s response to the Oromia protests has resulted in scores dead and a rapidly rising risk of greater bloodshed. The government’s labelling of largely peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists’ and deploying military forces is a very dangerous escalation of this volatile situation.

Amnesty International similarly reported

Protesters have been labelled ‘terrorists’ by Ethiopian authorities in an attempt to violently suppress protests against potential land seizures, which have already resulted in 40 deaths.

A local publication, Addis Fortune cautioned,

But gunning down peacefully demonstrating university or high school students is not a solution. It aggravates a sensitive situation and can have a negative impact on the security of the country, not to speak of digging the graves of those who lost their lives and rubbing the bloody hearts of those who lost their loved ones last year.

The U.S. State Department issued the following earth-shaking statement:

United States is deeply concerned by the recent clashes in the Oromia region of Ethiopia that reportedly have resulted in the deaths of numerous protesters. We greatly regret the deaths that have occurred and express our condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. We urge the government of Ethiopia to permit peaceful protest and commit to a constructive dialogue to address legitimate grievances…

Herman Cohen, former Assistant Secretary for African Affairs and the man who facilitated the takeover of power by the T-TPLF expressed puzzlement over T-TPLF massacres of unarmed protesters:

The political leaders of the Ethiopian Government have a policy of killing all opponents who take to the streets to demonstrate against them. Other opponents who do not demonstrate but make public statements instead, are sent to jail for long periods. I fail to understand why the Ethiopian regime feels it necessary to exercise such extreme control to the point of committing murder periodically against their own citizens. The government is receiving good marks from the international community for its investments in infrastructure and agriculture. If it could relax and loosen up its controls, it could become popular.Let’s face facts proven beyond a shadow of doubt!

Gunning down peaceful demonstrators and committing murders against citizens has always been the hallmark of the T-TPLF.

The T-TPLF gunned down nearly one-thousand people following the 2005 elections.

The T-TPLF gunned down over 400 Anuaks in the Gambella region in 2004.

The T-TPLF gunned down thousands of Ogadenis in 2007-08.

The T-TPLF gunned down tens of thousands of Somalis between 2006-09.

The T-TPLF has gunned down tens of thousands of Ethiopian in every part of Ethiopia since they seized power in 1991.

Murderous sprees for the T-TPLF should come as a surprise to no one.

The T-TPLF leaders mingle among civilized society today wearing military uniforms and designer suits. Remove the suits and uniforms, and lo! There stand “the best o’ the cut-throats”, as Shakespeare might have described them.

The T-TPLF is a vampiric organization which was conceived in bloodshed.

The T-TPLF is an organization born in bloodshed.

The T-TPLF is an organization that lives and thrives in bloodshed.

The only question is whether the T-TPLF will die in bloodshed.

It is obvious the T-TPLF leaders, cronies and bottom feeder elites have been rattled by recent protests and resistance movements throughout the country. The last time the T-TPLF was this badly rattled was when their capo di tutti capi (boss of all bosses) Meles Zenawi dropped dead in 2012.

The flashpoint in the current uprising is the so-called Addis Ababa master Plan, a hare-brained T-TPLF scheme of land expropriation of farmers on the far outskirts of the capital. (Click here to access the “MasterPlan” in Amharic.)

A panicked T-TPLF puppet-minister Hailemariam Desalegn blamed outside forces for the protests:

We know destructive forces are masterminding the violence from the forefront and from behind and they have burnt down a number of government and people’s property. We have also seen that armed forces have killed and injured security forces and members of the public. This thing cannot continue like this. I would like to pass a message that we, in conjunction with the public, will take merciless legitimate action against any force bent on destabilising the area.”

“Merciless legitimate action?” Did Hailemariam mean “merciless murderous action”?

Hailemariam and his T-TPLF masters are perfectly capable of taking “merciless” action, but they are totally incapable of taking “legitimate” action because they are unacquainted with the “rule of law.”

Hailemariam and his T-TPLF masters confuse the rule of law with the rule of thugs!

What Hailemariam is told to say by his T-TPLF masters is this: The T-TPLF will mercilessly massacre their opponents and protesters and do whatever it takes to stay in power.

The demonically bottomless capacity of the T-TPLF to take merciless action against their opponents is unquestioned. “Hell is empty because all the devils have enlisted in the T-TPLF,” to paraphrase Shakespeare.

Another cog in the T-TPLF wheel of misfortune by the name of Abiy Berhane in London echoed Hailemariam. “The violence in some parts of Oromia region is instigated by foreign-based opposition groups who are determined to overthrow the constitutional order in Ethiopia by the use of force.”

Another T-TPLF huckster by the name of Getachew Reda, who talks like sleazebucket used car salesman, said the cause of the troubles were armed gangs opposed to the T-TPLF’s efforts to consult with the people of the region on the city expansion plan. “The security forces will be taking very responsible and measured steps to neutralize the armed gangs which are now terrorizing the people in the region in those localities.”

How ludicrous is it for a regime of thugs armed to the teeth to call unarmed student and youthful protesters armed gangsters?

T-TPLF leaders and their fawning and bootlicking bottom feeders will spare no effort to demonize, criminalize, scandalize, sensationalize, criticize and brutalize their opponents.

How the T-TPLF made violent revolution inevitable

Last week Ethiopia’s foremost heroine of free press, Reeyot Alemu, declared she had joined Ginbot 7, a political organization committed to armed struggle against the T-TPLF.

In 2012, the T-TPLF had jailed Reeyot on bogus terrorism charges and sentenced her to 14 years in prison. She was released in July and arrived in the U.S. a few weeks ago.

Reeyot explained why she decided to join the armed struggle against the T-TPLF:

I have been thinking of what I can do inside Ethiopia. If I write, I will be imprisoned. I will be jailed. That would be the end of it. I have to do something to oppose and change the regime. To do so, I have to make a special contribution. My sacrifices have to be commensurate to the enormity of the task. I am not willing to be jailed for having written something. That is not commensurate. When I think of what I can do to bring about change, I thought I can do much better. They can shut down [political] parties anytime they want; they can shut down newspapers any time they want. If they were to jail a party member or leader, that’s better because the party could continue on. It is easy for them to shut down parties and newspapers and jail journalists. These days even little things like writing on Facebook is something one can be jailed for. Even comedians cannot joke [about the regime]. So what can I do? Not much. I concluded in prison that I cannot do much in the country. After I was released I gave interviews and wrote pieces on Ethiomedia and tried to show what my stand is. I believe we have to cast off our fears and take constructive action, action whose results can be seen. Action does not come from wishful thinking. I say all this because I have no plans to return to the homeland. I know if I return I will be sent back to Kality [Meles Zenawi Kality Prison]. Therefore, I have to make a contribution to the struggle [from outside]. I decided in prison to join the Ginbot 7 movement. There is no opportunity for peaceful struggle. Even the little opportunities that existed when I was jailed, they do not exist today. There is no choice left. There is nothing left but armed struggle. That is why I have joined Ginbot 7.

Is there no “opportunity for peaceful struggle” left in Ethiopia?

Reeyot’s statement that there is no opportunity for peaceful struggle left in Ethiopia is a question of profound importance for every Ethiopian. It is a question whose answer will determine decisively and irreversibly the future of Ethiopia. (The future of the T-TPLF is already determined. It has no future!)

Reeyot’s statement raises profound questions in my own thinking and the struggle I have waged against the T-TPLF criminals ceaselessly for nearly 10 years.

First let me say that I have the highest respect for Reeyot. I have the greatest appreciation for her sacrifices. I have great admiration for her defiance of the T-TPLF.

Reeyot refused to kneel down before the T-TPLF gods and ask for pardon and mercy. She stood her ground and refused to be intimidated, humiliated and dehumanized by the T-TPLF in prison.

When I heard Reeyot said “there is no opportunity for peaceful change in Ethiopia”, I felt like I was struck by lightning.

If I believed Reeyot was simply articulating her personal views, I would have treated her statement as a mere expression of her personal beliefs.

But Reeyot speaks for her generation, the 70 percent of young Ethiopians, like no one I know.

Reeyot resonates and echoes the despair, hopelessness, anguish, tribulation and resolve of her generation. She speaks for and is a messenger of Ethiopia’s young people.

When Reeyot delivers the message that there is no opportunity for peaceful struggle left in Ethiopia, that is a game changer for me.

As I contemplated Reeyot’s statement, I asked myself what the alternative choice is to peaceful struggle. Is it armed struggle?

When a gang of thugs publicly pledges to take “merciless actions” against unnamed protesters, indiscriminately shoots into protesting crowds, detonates hand grenades in the midst of worshippers, jails and tortures opponents, steals elections and claims to have won by 100 percent of the votes, the choice is not between peaceful and armed struggle.

No! No! The choice is NOT between peaceful struggle and armed struggle; the choice is between cowardice and violence.

I think Reeyot reached the spiritual tipping point Gandhi reached when he wrote, “The Doctrine of the Sword”:

I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence… I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonor.

I believe Reeyot reached the point where she was forced to accept permanent dishonor of Ethiopia by the T-TPLF or stand up and fight against the T-TPLF.

When facing and standing up to the military might, financial invincibility and total control of the T-TPLF, Reeyot re-proclaimed Gandhi’s declaration that “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

The indomitable will that has turned Reeyot away from the path of nonviolence is the courage of her convictions and her refusal to be afraid of the T-TPLF no more, to no longer accept humiliation and indignity from the T-TPLF.

Reeyot reached a point of “Enough is Enough!” I believe all Ethiopians have reached a point of “Enough is Enough!”

Reeyot’s decision, and I believe her decision reflects the views and will of the vast majority of her generation, to abandon the path of nonviolence and choose between cowardice and violence has caused me to question my own beliefs and relentless nonviolent personal struggle I have waged against the T-TPLF and its international supporters for nearly 10 years.

My long time readers of my very long essays will recall that I joined the human rights struggle in Ethiopia after the late T-TPLF leader ordered the massacre of hundreds of unarmed protesters following the 2005 election.

When I started my personal struggle for human rights in Ethiopia, I was convinced of three things: 1) Peaceful change in Ethiopia is not only possible but inevitable. 2) Meles Zenawi and the T-TPLF have set Ethiopia on fire, and fire fighters like me are needed to fight the fires of tribal hate, ethnic division, domination and antagonism and inequality and injustice. 3) Violence (the “law of the brute”) as a means of social change is immoral, barbaric and inhuman.

Gandhi taught that “nonviolence is the law of our species as violence is the law of the brute. The spirit lies dormant in the brute and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law to the strength of the spirit.”

I believed and still believe the law of the human species is nonviolence. But I also realize that “merciless” violence inflicted on the human species can transform humanity to respond to the brute with brutish means.

In August 2006, I wrote a commentary related to HR 5680 (Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006) in which I declared my philosophy for political change in Ethiopia. I said we bring change by winning the hearts and minds of the people:

I believe we prove the righteousness of our cause not in battlefields soaked in blood and filled with corpses, but in the living hearts and thinking minds of men and women of good will… I believe we must undertake an internal struggle in our minds and hearts and cleanse ourselves of the poison of ethnic hatred.

Just a few days before ringing in 2016, I have come to realize that the T-TPLF has broken the hearts of the Ethiopian people beyond repair by 24 years of abuse; inflamed their hearts by 24 years of injustice; hardened their hearts by 24 years of indignity and humiliation; embittered their hearts by 24 years of exploitation; sickened their hearts by 24 years of corruption and today steeled their hearts by 24 years of tyrannical brutalization.

The heartbeats of the Ethiopian people have been transformed into the drumbeats of armed struggle and war.

As I look back at my relentless nearly ten-year struggle against abuse of power, tyranny and for human rights violations and for democracy, justice and human rights in Ethiopia, I am overwhelmed by the feeling that all of my efforts for peaceful change have been for naught. They did not amount to a hill of beans.

All of the unsolicited advice and warnings I gave to the T-TPLF and its leaders to change their ways, to mend their ways have gone unheeded.

All of my pleas to the T-TPLF to let up on its repression, to become more humane and just and to listen to the people have all fallen on deaf ears.

The fire I tried to put out in Ethiopia is now smoldering in every part of the country.

Many of my longtime readers remember my 2007 allegorical piece “The Hummingbird and the Forest Fire”.

In that piece I likened myself to the tiny hummingbird firefighter trying to put out a forest fire by carrying water in her beaks.

… Believe it or not, our homeland is on fire. There is a pyromaniac on the loose… But the smoke carries a message: Thousands of our brothers and sisters have burned in the fire, tens of thousands more are burning in the fire now, hundreds of thousands are dying from gunfire, and 77 million are on the firing line!

When your home is on fire, you don’t stand around and talk a good talk. Like the hummingbird, you get in gear and run to the river to get your droplet of water.

But our young people in Ethiopia are in the fire, and on the firing line every day. They are shot down like rabid dogs if they protest. They are jailed if they speak their minds. They are harassed if they are considered disloyal. They disappear if they are considered subversive.

These Diaspora firefighters do not fight fire with fire; no, they fight fire with water. Like water on fire, these firefighters spray hope and optimism over the despair and misery inflicted upon our brothers and sisters; they sweep the wreckage of repression and tyranny with the broom of democracy and human rights; they plant the seeds of freedom and liberty on a land charred and ravaged by political violence, corruption, savagery and lawlessness.

These firefighters have a single mission: help build a new society guided by a national vision which embraces the indivisible unity of the Ethiopian people and rejects the bankrupt ideas of those who claim that Ethiopia is no more than an incoherent agglomeration of competing and antagonistic ethnic, linguistic and regional groups.

I concluded:

Let’s educate and train our young people in the peaceful but unyielding ways of firefighting, motivate them, support them and embrace them as they face the searing flames desperately trying to save the millions of fire victims and their future. Let’s assure them that in the end, like the molten steel that shines brightly having gone through the blast furnace, they will also shine and bring sunshine with them to the charred and scarred forest.

Let us never doubt that our young firefighters, though they may inherit a society devastated by decades of political repression and human rights abuse, will one day be able to build a City Upon a Hill — a just, humane and pious society — where no man or woman will fear his or her government, where government will dutifully respect the rights and liberties of its citizens, where every person can stand tall and freely speak his or her mind, and where no man, woman or child will ever lose life, liberty of property without due process of just laws.

Is peaceful change still possible in Ethiopia?

I do not know factually if peaceful change is possible in Ethiopia anymore.

What I know for sure is that my dreams of building an Ethiopian “City Upon a Hill” are dissolving fast.

What I know for sure is that my efforts to educate and train our young people in the peaceful but unyielding ways of fighting the fires of ethnic division, human rights violation and tyrannical abuse of power are fast giving way to fighting fire with fire.

What I know for sure is the people of Ethiopia have resolved to get rid of the T-TPLF by force of arms because they have concluded the T-TPLF is impervious to reason, deaf to dialogue, discussion and debate and resolved in its decision to plunge the country and itself into the conflagration of civil war.

So it seems present events have made me the only person who still indulges in the illusion of peaceful change; the only person who believes in his wishes of peaceful change against overwhelming facts of change by force of arms; the only person who hopes peaceful change is still possible when hope has dimmed and defiant despair is becoming triumphant; the only person who preaches the ways of nonviolence to empty pews.

It seems I am the only person who still nurtures dreams of an Ethiopia at peace with itself and neighbors because it has undergone peaceful change.

In July 2012, when the late T-TPLF leader passed away, I wrote a commentary entitled, “Dreams of an Ethiopia in Peace”.

I called for the “beginning of national dialogue, not only in the halls of power, the corridors of the bureaucracy and the military barracks but also in the remotest villages, the church and masjid meeting halls and other places of worship, the schools and colleges, the neighborhood associations and in the taverns, the streets and markets and wherever two or more people congregate. We have no choice but to begin talking to each other with good will and in good faith.”

I dared to dream of an Ethiopia at peace because “Some men see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?’”

I dared to believe we can all walk in Nelson Mandla’s footsteps.

I dared to dream of a nation of utopian Ethiopians! Why not?

In my “Dreams” commentary, I cited Scripture to argue there is “a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.”

After over two decades of T-TPLF rule, “What time is it in Ethiopia now?” I asked.

It it is time for peace–high time to dream for peace. It is time to replace bitterness with reconciliation; hate with love that heals the community; revenge with forgiveness; despair with hope; hurt with healing; fear with courage; division with unity; doubt with faith; shame with honor; deceit with candor and sincerity; anger with reason; cruelty with kindness and caring; enmity with friendship; duplicity with openness; complacency with action; indifference with passion; incivility with gracefulness; suspicion with trust; selfishness with altruism; dishonesty with integrity; convenience with virtue; cunning with scruples; ignorance with knowledge; benightedness with imagination; acrimony with civility, desire with fulfillment and sniping and carping with broad national dialogue.

I said the time to talk and act is now! It is time to act now for peaceful change!

But my words, it seems have fallen on deaf ears and scattered to the wind.

As 2015 comes to a close, I think the people of Ethiopia hear the words of the great American revolutionary Patrick Henry more loudly and more clearly than my puny pleas and protestations for peaceful change:

It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Believe it or not, I still believe in the possibility of peaceful change in Ethiopia.

I so believe not because the facts in Ethiopia today support my view; not because my belief is supported in the opinion of the Ethiopian people; not because I believe the T-TPLF has learned its lesson in its 11th hour; not because I believe the T-TPLF will act in its own enlightened self-interest and seek to avert conflict and bloodshed; not because the great powers that be will intervene and pressure the T-TPLF to its senses, not because…

I still believe in the possibility of peaceful change in Ethiopia because I am a utopian Ethiopian.

To be continued…

Source: Nazret

Arguments Amongst Death, Destruction

OPINIONBy Dawit Endeshaw

The narratives vary and lives have been lost but the option for constructive dialogue remains

Almost three weeks since the mass protest began in parts of Oromia State, official statements emanating from different bodies indicate that the government and opposition parties stand polarized on the issue of the public unrest. A number of incidents that occurred in random locations of Oromia resulted in death and injury with various players steering the unrest, as well as the way forward to resolve the situation.

Goverment's briefing on November 16, 2015, given by Getachew Reda, head of government Communication Affairs, said that it is a movement steered by different actors including registered political parties that took part in the most recent general election. There intent, he claimed was to manipulate genuine concern of the public following unclear understanding of the proposed Integrated Master Plan for Addis Abeba & Oromia Special Zones.

"The fact that the Addis Abeba & Oromia Special Zone Integrated Master Plan was at a draft stage could not actually allow it to be tabled for public discussion," Getachew reiterated, justifying the gap in understanding. "I'm not going to get into a dirty laundry list of who these groups are," he continued.

Carefully avoiding specific figures, the Minister admitted that there was significant loss of property and human life.

A day earlier on November 15, 2015, Forum for Democratic Dialogue, Medrek, came up with the specific number of 32 people dead, identifying them by name and the places at which they were shot. Later in the week Merera Gudina (PhD), the Party's head of External Relations updated that figure to 75 during a telephone interview with Fortune.

Towns such as Wellega, West Harage, West Shewa and south-western Shewa are among the areas listed by Medrek, while the government has identified selected areas including west and south-west Showa, areas not directly affected by the Integrated Master Plan.

Even the narratives of the root cause of the problem, though aligned to a certain extent, are still divergent in terms of emphasis given.

To some degree, government acknowledged the impact of lack of good governance, while Medrek attributes that as the underlying cause of how and why the unrest began and spread.

"The cadres of Oromo Peoples Democratic Party (OPDO) have played a role of land grabbing of the poor farmers," the External Relations Head argued. He went on to mention an incident in Ambo in which land occupied by a school was grabbed by these cadres," giving the violence a wider base and bigger scope.

The government's version of events insists that the violence was fuelled by external intervention. Its proposed solution to the internal crack of understanding is creation of a wide-based discussion platform. Opposition, on the other hand, proposes cancellation of a proclamation recently promulgated by Oromia House of Council, a.k.a. Cheffe Oromia, which, from their perspective was the immediate cause of protest and unrest.

In the midst of last week's highly polarized argument and counter argument, including the contagious information chaos promulgated particularly on the social media platform, the Addis Abeba City Administration made a controversial announcement claiming that the Integrated Master Plan was simply a draft document and the office that carried out the technical study had completed its job and had therefore been closed since 2014.

Contrary to this announcement, the project had recently declared opening a public tender to purchase stationery and other office supplies. On page six of the December 11, 2015 publication of Addis Zemen newspaper, the supposedly defunct office announced as a part of the current budget year, a bid for the purchase of eight items, namely, printers, tyres, audio visual equipment, computers, uniforms for guards and colour ink for printers and photocopiers.

As the suspension of the office was announced on the state media, Fortune contacted officials of the office but none of them was willing to respond. When Fortune's reporter, accompanied by a photographer visited the office's premises on the 10th floor of Yeha Building in front of the National Stadium early on the morning of December 18, 2015, they were stopped by security guards who said there were no staff members in the rooms rented by the office and for the time being they had stooped their official job.

"It was since yesterday that the staff have stopped working," said one of the security guard.

On the same day Fortune confirmed with a call to the project office, using a number provided in the tender announcement referred to above, and was told that the bids were cancelled.

The announcement made by the City blames individuals, without specifying who exactly who these individuals are, for fabricating the tenders and employment announcement in the name of the office.

"We only receive official advertisement inquiries with a stamp in it from our customers," said Anteneh Haile Berhan, Advertisement & Marketing Development head for Ethiopian Press Agency, publisher of the Addis Zemen newspaper.

The controversy continued gaining momentum, and winning attention of international media as well as international community.

The US Embassy in Ethiopia has added its voice in response to, sending out an official statement by Mark Toner, deputy spokesperson, declaring the concern of the US government and calling of the Government of Ethiopia to permit peaceful protest, urging the protesters to refrain from violence, and all actors to commit to constructive dialogue.

Source: AllAfrica