January may be a cold month
and not the ideal month for wedding in the west but in Ethiopia
January is the beginning of a hot summer and the beginning of
a frenzy-wedding season. With that spirit enjoy a typical wedding
musical video.
(Readers comment noted!)
Senators Encouraged by Ethiopian Military
Victory
Senators John McCain (R-AR.) and Joseph Lieberman
(I-D-CT.)
On January 5, 2006 Senator Lieberman and McCain held a discussion
in American Enterprise Institute on current situation in Iraq.
They were asked about the situation in the Horn of Africa
and they responded as follow:
Senator Lieberman: “We take encouragement
from the fact a decisive action by the Ethiopians; this war
that we are fighting is not unbeatable. We have a victory
to build on.”
Senator McCain says: “The Ethiopian
military has gained a significant tactical victory”
Like our yesterday heroes we also
would like to remember those heroes of ours who have fallen
in Somalia fighting extremist and mujhadeenis with this song.
A Tigrinya tribute song to fallen
TPLF tegadeltis A fitting song for our time! By Berhane Gano!
(Notes
from one of our reader
Hey Guys,
I read the story about
Seeye on your page--sad the guy fell out of favor with
the TPLF and is languishing in prison. Having said that,
what is the credibility of the story? 10000 tanks? 500000
perished, deliberately killed 1 million civilians--
what was he smoking? I have no problem that he praised
the TPLF fighters--afterall they defeated the Derg army,
but shouldn't credibility be something you guys check
if you are displaying someone's garbage prominently.
Thanks, An observer
Observer,
The moral of the story is that a
foreigner got to tell the story of our heroes, with
exaggeration and omission, while we discard it as “garbage”
all together. Sadly, Siye is mentioned by loony individuals
who created their own orbit of “opposition”,
Anti-tigrieans, and enemies of the PM in relation to
Eritrea (BTW all are equally accountable for policy
on Eritrea, with out exception) , individuals that made
a name for themselves or those who found it opportune
time for vendetta on issue that dates back to the formation
of MLLT, and on book credits of jailed ‘rebels
with out cause-CUD leaders who trashed a promising election
for hopes of bringing back an era Siye and all Gallant
Tegadelit fought against.
When are we going to retire heros from public life with
dignity? (remember those who are dismissed and turned
as refute) When are they going to shade the sort of
hubris they developed that made them think they are
the PARTY while wearing a promise for their fallen "bisot"
on their neck?
5 years is more than enough to sober up and reflect.
Volunteer and write the true story of our heroes or
somebody will write it to your dislike.
___________________________
My
favourite character was, and still is, a real person.
He is Seeye Abraha, or Seeye - ---- But, unusually for
someone whose deeds deserve to enter into history, he
is self-effacing. You will certainly never have heard
of him, and few others ever have. Yet, if the truth
was known, he was one of the great figures of the last
quarter of the 20th century......
ANALYSIS-Ethiopia-Eritrea flare-up averted, tensions remain
"The Ethiopian action was a sort of dramatic strike using quite significant
forces. There wasn't time (for Eritrea to react)," said Sally Healy, of
the British-based think-tank Chatham House...
Comment:While the above analysis by a western expert
paints Shaibya as incapable to match Ethiopia's military prowess, pm Meles
distracters are mad with him for allowing Shaibya to "gain strength”.
The truth is Shaibya is dying and it is time to give credit where it is
due. The Ethiopian government has been all along right to treat Shaibya
as a nuisance since the last war. No war no peace is the right policy
for Eritrea today and it must continue! However Ethiopia's policy towards
Egypt needs to be revised. Having lost every trick he has tried to weaken
Ethiopia using his own means, Isayas Afeworki is trying to garner
a helping hand from Egypt for his next adventure. Egypt needs to be
told we will not continue to turn blind eye any more.
Dear Waltainfo.com Readers... Waltainfo.com
management would like you to know the website is slowly up and running.
Please bear with them until full service is restored.
Islamic Jungle Hideout Near Capture
KISMAYO, Somalia (AP) -- A jungle hideout used by Islamic militants that
is believed to be an al-Qaida base was on the verge of falling to Ethiopian
and Somali troops...
U.S. support key to Ethiopia's invasion(USA Today) comment:-There is a saying in Ethiopia and it
goes like this:"wushet sedegagem euwnet yemeselal".It means if a lie is
told repeatedly it may pass as a truth. PM Meles told reporters Ethiopia
was alone and the US did not contribute a single soul or penny towards
the war against terrorist in Somalia.Yet, people left and right are writing
all kind of articles how the US helped Ethiopia. We are sure PM Meles
govt would not mind if the US decides to cover the money he has spent
from his meager resource to cover the war but so far Ethiopia alone covered
the war both in blood and money.
Ethiopia and Technology:
The case of Ethiopian Tele Communication
Dear Mr. Mike and all
Diaspora Ethiopians discussing on how to reform the Ethiopian Telecommunication
(ETC) is a welcome gesture. I personally thank Dagmawi for raising the
issue albeit in a skewed manner. The issue I did not like with ENV opinion
is blaming Meles and his ideology for every shortcoming in Ethiopia [Zeru
Hagos]
At least seven persons were injured after
government forces fired shots at the demonstrators that were shattering
shop windows and stoning buses in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday.
Several hundreds of young people staged anti-disarmament
demonstrations in the capital Mogadishu.
The Third Possibility
Dear Mr. Hagos:
I wonder if there is a third possibility. That is, rather than saying
inefficiency is Eprdf's official policy nor the ETC's bureaucracy.
How about a third possibility, a possible combination of the two.
How do you completely absolve the ruling party that has reigned
for approximately 16 years, that it has yet to filter out the problem
and FIX it. That is rather extreme and I might add, possibly biased.
Conversely, to underestimate a culture that frowns on change and
flexibility, not just at the ETC, but in the entire nation, is rather
extreme, and yes, biased. It underestimates the cultural impediments
to ruling a nation such as Ethiopia. It underestimates the historical-political
impediments to ruling a nation such as Ethiopia. Again, I urge you
to consider the third possibility. A combination of both factors.
Furthermore, I also urge you to consider that the focus is greater
on a governmental body than that of the populace. Just because it
is the government. It is the burden that comes with being a leader.
From that angle, it is even more difficult not to hold the ruling
regime responsible, maybe not in its entirety, but to a greater
extent than the populace-bureaucracy. Having said that, I do share
your concern with regards to painting the entire ruling regime,
as a defective body, just because of a defect in a particular instance.
Consciously ignoring efficiency and productivity in other areas.
Not the least of which is the Ethiopian Defense Forces' efficiency
and productivity. That is a product of the ruling regime. Equally
on the economic front, from roads to hospitals, and investments,
a wide range of efficient and productive activities attributable
to the ruling regime. Ignoring this record is irresponsible and
a lot of times malicious. I have a sneaky suspicion that such extremism
is fundamentally anchored in the Ethiopian soul. I hope we are wise
enough to find a middle ground.
Regards,
Peace and Love,
Mike.
The Glass is Half full no it isn’t
it is Half empty!
Ethiopian Telecommunication certainly deserves criticism
for the slow expansion and for not keeping up with technology. I would
not agree with Dagmawi’s assertion the problem of ETC is EPRDF’s ideology.
I think the archaic bureaucracy and entrenched work force that is resisting
change at ETC is the problem.
Dagmawi may see the glass as half empty based on the data he has shown
but I see the glass as half full for people can call now to relatives
in Dersege and Edagarbi thanks to EPRDF’s ideology of a development that
accounts the majority of Ethiopians living in rural Ethiopia.
ETC can do better and EPRDF can do better in managing ETC but to ignore
what has been achieved so far and worst claim ideology as the root cause
is not right![Zeru Hagos]
There goes the tantrum of
ENV over mobile phones in a country that has only 15% urban population
and where subscribers have coined the famous phrase MISKEN CALL –
ENV have the audacity to demand mobile for for the mere use of insurrection
by the “indigenous citizens”. These upto no good elitist can
not come to terms with the fact that their hegemony has ended, and there
is no “non indigenous dictatorship’ but Ethiopia is a country
of nations and nationalities struggling to build a democracy.
Beside venomous rhetoric and self serving data, these elitist does not
even have the intellectual integrity to show relation b/n GDP and Tele-density,
Land line to Mobile the state of the private sector and its capacity and
the legitimate issues of those who support monopoly of telecom infrastructure
and what ETC has accomplished
and it’s failing. It is lost on them that the issue of liberalization
is not a case of black and white. Ethiopia has battled successfully against
the IMF avoiding the disaster brought by the Washington Consensus in the
90’s, while it found itself in fierce debate on the extent of liberalization
resulting in division and splitting of the leadership, that resulted in
the weakening of the ruling and resurgence of Derge in the form of CUD
There is consensus for reform across the board and to what extent and
speed is the one that is debatable. And sober minds in opposite side of
the issue can bring their case, for benefit of all citizens.[Alula
Nega]
By
dawn the Islamists were gone
(The Economist)_After a stunning victory over its Islamist enemies, the
government has to act quickly if the country is not to slip back into
its usual civil strife...With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that
the hardliners over-reached themselves, making some serious miscalculations.
The first was to make a deal with Eritrea, the local pariah state, for
arms and military trainers—some of the arms coming from third parties
in the Middle East...
Kinijit supports
and stands along side disciplined Ethiopian armed forces now in Somalia
Kinijit supports and stands along side disciplined Ethiopian armed forces
now in Somalia and expresses its best wishes for their safe and speedy return
to heir motherland. Kinijit Support in North America also stands with and
shares the grief of those families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price...
Comment:- Unlike the Shaibya infested Berhanu Mewa
wing of Kinijit Diaspora the Shaleqa group has shown it has Ethiopia at
heart with the position it has taken. We applaud them! The next step is
to disassociate from Shaibya sponsored AFD!
Fabulous Abraham Gebremedhin Rocks Bay Area, California. A night
to remember!
(Aigaforum, Jan 07,2007) The venue Oakland California, actors Abraham
Gebremedhin and Eden Gebreselassie, the audience members residents
of Northern California. Abraham’s young career is taking off. Unlike
many other musicians Abraham’s Diaspora funs include...
Date: January 13, 2006
Location: Flamingo Ethiopian Restaurant
4959 Memorial Dr. Atlanta, GA
Time: 8:00pm
Please join us for TDA-GA Chapter’s second fund raising
dinner to finalize the building of an Elementary School in Serare,
Tselemti. We will host a reception at 8:00 pm and dinner @ 9:00
pm, followed by Guayla.
We ask our guests to contribute towards our collective project.
Furthermore, we respectfully ask those who have not finalized their
obligations towards their pledges to bring their pledges to this
event. We know you understand the importance of the cause, and we
truly hope you will be able to attend
Announcement from TDA
DC Chapter
TDA DC Chapter is hosting a fund raising dinner event in Washington
DC Metropolitan on
January 20Th 2007 from 5.00pm to 10.00pm
TDA- DC Committee
My
favourite character was, and still is, a real person.
He is Seeye Abraha, or Seeye - ---- But, unusually for
someone whose deeds deserve to enter into history, he
is self-effacing. You will certainly never have heard
of him, and few others ever have. Yet, if the truth
was known, he was one of the great figures of the last
quarter of the 20th century......
