Abebe Gellaw and Dr. Berhanu Nega was on Al Jazeera “The Stream” program. Today’s (June 26, 2012) AL Jazeera “The Stream” program focused on Ethiopia and free speech:
“Is free speech being silenced in Ethiopia through telecom and anti-terrorism laws?”
Abebe Gellaw wrote on his Facebook status:
Dr. Berhanu Nega and I appeared live on Al Jazeera yesterday.
I have told Al Jazeera that Meles Zenawi’s rightful place is not a G8 summit, but the International Criminal Court (ICC). The world now knows that Meles Zenawi is actually the real terrorist.
[youtube mAT6gS5DdVg 640 360]
by K. Bekele
As you know, the soon-dying dictator recently banned using skype on the Internet in Ethiopia. Meles Zenawi has passed a law recently that says anyone found using skype will be punished with 15 years in prison. And this has created an uproar all over the world. It has been the talk of international press and human rights organizations.
Dr. Berhanu Nega and Journalist Abebe Gellaw exposed this dictatorial measure of Meles Zenawi on Aljazeera. By the way, Abebe Gellaw’s historic action on May 18, 2012 against Zenawi was also shown during the interview. This interview on Aljazeera is a very critical achievement for the opposition in getting international media coverage to expose this dying dictator’s totalitarian rule in Ethiopia.
Tags: Abebe Gellaw, Addis Ababa, Meles Zenawi
Maza
August 10, 2012 at 1:21 pm
thanks for alternative media like Al Jazeera, we have a voice! BBC and CNN are actively ignoring the Meles tyranical government oppressing its people, not only that, they quote the facist Meles the one who braught 11% of growth!!! Shame to west media, who is willing to say anything , support atrocities (since Meles kills anybody that voice opposition!) yet he is the african leader chosen by Blair for good governance!!! it is a shame for USA and UK not to stand by ethiopian people – now that Meles gave the land to chinese, concern are rising a little bit: Hillary just criticized that fact last week during her visit in Africa…that means, it is not about who is governing Ethiopia they care, but who’s interest is defended. Meles is probably poised by his own so called west friends as he invited chineese and indians to own the land which USA is strongly against. There will be no arab spring in Ethiopia…there will be a transition of power organized by strong countries behind the scene…51 days since Meles is not seen (dead or sick he is out !) now the debate is who should govern us? another memeber of TPLF who will do west wars or a true Ethiopian scholar who might not be willing to do all what USA/UK WANT?? who to trust? that’s what make me sick – that millions of us ethiopian are out here waiting for real change but I doubt real change will come unless we , Ethiopians, go on war as Dr Berhanu Nega said it once: we have to do our own revolution! the country is infected of spyers from young to old tigreans—they own all the business and political instution – to reverse this need a lot of unity – the opposition party in Ethiopia is a joke! where are they now? what are they saying? CNN and french channel are 24 hours broadcasting Assad!! why ??? and why not Ethiopia??? Meles is killing our people, destroying citizen houses, jailing journalist and activist, torturing women and men silently…why , why why Media is sooooo silent? Ethiopians will not have freedom gained outside the blood shed like lybians, tunisians, egyptians…this is what cnn, bbc need to see before they report…and maybe we need to pay that sacrifice…but are the people ready for such???? they were already terrorized by the red terror in 1973, would they be able to sustain another read terror???? unless that is not clear to all ethiopians, we will not have freedom…we will get a puppet chosen by the current party who will be forced to work with the opposition party…same gang with a new ideology – and more erithreans and tigreans to own our business, our town, our villages…I call upon Dr Birhanu Nega to call for a big rally towards a theme : what Ethiopian should be doing towards their freedom in the country? how do we support financially an army inside the country ….however, I want to thank Al Jazeera for at least inviting our 2 respected ethiopian fello.
God bless and save Ethiopia.
GONDAR
August 7, 2012 at 3:23 am
NO ONE DID IT BEFORE,BRAVO ABE BRAVO ABE,GOD BLESS YOU !!!!!!!!!!!FOR EVER
walelgne
July 1, 2012 at 4:50 pm
It is clear that satisfaction with the political process in Ethiopia is at an all time low and that the majority of citizens are excluded from the political process. All the people of Ethiopia should have to be brought into the political process in order for democracy to survive in Ethiopia, as popular support for democracy is an indicator of consolidation, and without the support of the majority of citizens, democracy may not survive. Social movements are an important alternative vehicle of political expression and it can be important in keeping democratic institutions in check and are therefore important for democratic accountability.
Ethiopia has now a very unequal society, and politics have become the business of the elites who are direct descendants of one ethnic group. The Current dictators elites are the minority, they forcefully ruled the country to their benefit and the political culture is hierarchical, authoritarian and totalitarian. The peasants, urban working class, rural workers, members of the informal sector and the indigenous communities are largely excluded from the political arena or symbolically participate with out having decision power in any circumstance. Yet these sectors represent the majority of the population of Ethiopia, then the excluded masses, came to see politics as the “private business” of the elites. The elected officials have no ties to the majority lower classes and have no incentive to consider their demands. While the elected officials promise the exclude masses that they will help their plight during election campaigns, once in power they disregard their electoral platform, mainly because they never had any intention of alleviating the plight of the excluded masses.
The poor and marginalised of Ethiopians have now begun to mobilize and demand that their needs are met. The promotion of a small hole democracy taught them that their voices should be heard and the political system should respond to them. As a result, people began to turn to social movements to channel their demands. So social movement is inevitable in Ethiopia.
Thank You(Abebe & Dr. Birhanu),it is fantastic
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enquyaya
June 29, 2012 at 12:52 pm
First and foremost,thanks to both of you,Dr.Birhanu and Journalist,Abebe Gellaw for speaking on behave of the voiceless,80 million Ethiopians on Al Gazeera.Zinawi has become the most ruthless dictator and murderer known to the global community.You teamed up and delivered useful message to the world,and this,acctually will boost up our strength to carry on the struggle until the enemy that we have been fighting against is crushed to its complete defeat.
fisseha
June 29, 2012 at 10:12 am
I don’t really care about foreign citizens and journalist what they said about Ethiopia. I’m not saying all of them but some of them; they don’t even know what is really going on in this poor country right now. They don’t speak our language and they don’t even know how Ethiopia government system is operating to one another with tribalism system. I get sick when they are saying Ethiopia is in the right trace with economic development and democracy, while the truth is behind. Prime minster Meles and his coward partners are seeding tribalism and corruption in this country. Prime minster Meles Zenawi is working hard to repeat Rwandan genocide by covering USA and European in false terrorism plan. If I were in Ethiopian this time while I’m writing this message to Al Jazeera I will face charges of terrorism which so many journalist and opposition party leaders are in jail, and some of them sentenced life in prison because of reputedly writing governmental mistakes and corruption nothing else but the truth stayed behind. How many of foreign citizen they know that 80 million Ethiopia peoples are ruled by four million peoples or one tribal system and all of them they are top officer in every governmental and nongovernmental office, from prime minster up to down to local officer. No free press, no demonstration and no strike in sense no democracy and freedom including the complicated governmental system of abusing and harassment of its indigenes. If I said in public, prime minster Meles Zenawi is wrong or dictator, I will be jailed or I will be disappeared by his military set and CID agent. What kind of a country is this! O Lord please save this country, our brother and sister are in the hell and our father and mother are in darkness they cannot see a good future. Almighty GOD Free us from this home born evil menace. I’m crying in half of my nation, four million people are laughing and enjoying in tears of others. I love my country and those journalist can represents me and my nation.
Aboy
June 28, 2012 at 2:21 am
Splendid, Aljazeera turned out to be the CNN of the rest of the world while the rest are sleeping on driver seat. Our guys are showed the class of Ethiopiawinet and love of country.
How come there is no Woyinee willing to come out and face the two giants. Wetting their pants hiding from truth? I am sure they were invited as all Medias invite the opposing view. But, they are one leg chicken except in front of ETV.
By the way what happen to the dwarf Melse. I hope he doesn’t expire before he face justice.
Victory1233
June 27, 2012 at 10:55 pm
I am happy for the contribution of Al jazeera to conduct this Interview because most of the world can get a clear view to know who is meles Zenawi & how he treating the Ethiipian people as a speaking tool( a human being who speaks but has no right of expressing of his/her feeling) so Abebe Gelaw & Dr. Getachew Nega exposed the greedy & murderer nature of the Ethiipian Government particularly Meles Zenawi. Congratulation!! to ESAT of getting additional media that exposes the Ethiopian Governemnt besides what you are doing everyday.
Thanks Abebe Gela & Dr. Birhanu Nega for your being a voice for the voicless people of Ethiopia.
whatever, the time is long, Freedome will be on the way.
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alemayehu Tadege
June 27, 2012 at 11:33 am
There is no substitution for freedom, thanks Abe and Bire, Woyane is coming up with his days, he and his followers who has got firfari and hodam are being bored and frightening of your activities. I decided to call my new baby daughter , FREEDOM.
tulu
June 27, 2012 at 11:15 am
Very good conversation! Both were excellent!
Ahadu
June 27, 2012 at 10:58 am
Woyanne is not a Govt as such rather a gang assigned by some Ethiopian enemies for destruction that is why it is the biggest recipent of the so called donors money with a full knowledge of the gangs short comings actually there is no single normality in the gangs 38 years history these two Ethiopian gentle men which has the love respect of the 95% Ethiopian peoples unlike the gang we will be
witness in the near future as the Egyptians and Tunisian are childs play before arab spring like uprisinghappen in Ethiopia
Thx Dr Berhanu
Thx Abe real sons of mother Ethiopia
Death to woyanne criminals which are busy as proxy slaves
like their ancestors before 100+ years specially their leader
in whom his parents were allies with Ethiopian enemies,
Alexande Free
June 27, 2012 at 9:59 am
Realy i appricate the peacefull freedom war of Ethiopian Jounalist it is not the voice of only the journalist it the Voice of 85 millions of Ethiopian peopel who are suffring with a luck of freedom of speach.I am thinking it is the the write time to think EPDERF to give the Ethiopian people to choise thier country leader with a democratic election with out taking more time becase the out come thise freedom movemnet will contniue and it will happen the in other Africannse country like Egypt.It is also the great opportunity to shoaow the Ethiopian people real situatio with other worldes ebenb if they they know before it time to be think carffully the Ethiopian peeople suffring with tha lack of real democracy and human write we know a thousendes of inocent Ethiopian peoepel are suffring with preson and torching with all over the country. It is a great alarm to think EPDRF to give the powr to the Ethiopian peeopel.
Abebe Gelaw you are peasful struggler Hero for Ethiopian peeopel.
ABERA
June 27, 2012 at 8:57 am
My great thanks to Al Jeezera for giving the opportnity to Dr Berhanu and Ato Abebe,two significant diaspora Ethiopian actvists, to air their views against the Meles dictatorship in Ethiopia.
The answers given by the two interviwees,to my mind,are spot on.
Abebe’s response to Sergio Santamaria in particular,I think,is a good one.Incidentally,that answer also tackles the regime’s attempt to discredit Abebe’s activities by labeling him an opposition politician rather than a serious and ‘independent’ journalist.As Abebe spoke,he was not able to exercise his freedom in Ethiopia and as a result he is an exile in the U.S.A. What is worse, the Meles regime since then has condemned him,along many others,to a life imprisonmnet in absentia for ‘treason’.
G/egziabiher
June 27, 2012 at 6:57 am
First and formost I would like to thank Al Jeezera for putting out the voices of the unheard 80 million Ethiopians. And, i want to thank mentor and activist Dr. Birihanu Nega, journalist and activist Abebe Gelaw, and those who did envolved in the process through twitter and other links. Does any body know how rich the Ethiopian leaders are? not millioners..they are billioners? How? simply embezzelment? According to outside sources in Europe, the first lady, if we have one, has been repeatedly spending over a million dollar on merchendaises and cosemetics while over 14 million people are insatiably hungry….what a shame?itis clear to all Ethiopians and to the world at large that all the ethiopian leaders have bank accounts in Swiss bank and some other off shore banks in the carriebian? I always wonder, is there a secular body of gov’t that is responsible for such actions or is it really true that the swiss gov’t is a pro of corruption? Thank you, Ethiopia lezelalem tinur…..Netsanet…Netsanet…Netsanet
sami
June 27, 2012 at 5:34 am
I have read all the comment With thanks to all But there is the issue did not touch him one It is with respect to the Tigray National They are part of the Ethiopian people We all respect the, Do you With Meles Zenawi ? In what he does Tearing of the Ethiopian people And creation of enemies and hatred Between them Can the one team and faction and the one national And minority ethnic To rule by force of arms All Ethiopian people Of different nationalities and ethnicities ? Why has not changed the name of Tigray Liberation Front (TPLF) Are Tigray Need to edit From Ethiopia ? The survival of this team and this name Means there is a great scheme The division of Ethiopia to Piece to piece Largest country will be the Tigray This is planned in 1967. from this party (TPLF) If Meles believes in the unity of the Ethiopian people and the land Was changed the name of (TPLF) before 21 years ago Non-Change the name and give assab port to Eritrea This is evidence against the order of Unit Ethiopia Should be expelled and drop this person with his political team Victory to ethiopia and ethiopian people Ethiopian
sami
June 27, 2012 at 4:42 am
This cowardly act And non-democratic What’s the difference between Mengistu h/mariam and meles zenawi To freedom of opinion Of the individual and freedom of the press and media And freedom of expression The privacy of individuals in the communication Their families and their friends Through this means, communication technology No legal or moral justification for preventing this To prevent the government If the fear is of a repeat of what happened in neighboring countries In the fall of governments There are many ways other Today we are in a twentieth one- century We are not in ancient times mr, meles zenawi And to the one color government of or one party government this letter
Hirut
June 27, 2012 at 4:16 am
Great conversation. Thank you Aljazeera. The voice of the other, if not the voiceless. If it was not for Al Jazeera, such a timely issue would not be discussed in any other prime time television and shame on them. Because they too have been conducting an indirect communication black out,as they only dish out what they care about. So much for ” globalised world” retheric.
Thank you also to Dr Brihanu Nega and Abebe Gelaw. You both spoke with clarity,decency and to the point.
I like when I see decent arguments. Simply outlining your argument and highlighting what you stand for as a matter of princple as oppose to hateful tribal screaming.
Let the whole world hear loud and clear through costructive programmes such as this what the people of Ethiopia have been subjected to- Absolute dictatiorship by a “friendly thug” that the West support. So much so,they call him “progressive leader” of Africa. ( progressive,even when one blocks the use of Skype in the 21st century!) All because of strategic reason; but sooner or later and as ususal, the US would realise what a grave error it has been committing for supporting such a dangereous regime.
Quite where do they find this foreign policy specialist and analyist from, is anyone’s guess.
Meles son of "Shumbash"
June 27, 2012 at 3:25 am
It is time to have unity aganist racist, tyrannt, ego, and stupid, lier, land graber, scissciinsit, son of “Sumbash” and make dawon. You racist supporter from one ethinic group and moralless, selfish supporters, it is time to think again. You are lier running for short-term benefit. Ethiopia is Under a one man rule controlling from trade, chruch, mosque,every where. Meles we abhor you, you are not talented for elites but you are for your stupid supporters.It this time that break the racisit tactil of people separation, taling day night about ethinicity.
moss
June 27, 2012 at 2:53 am
Well done .my country.
Punch it while it is hot.
Let the world know what kind of brutality,stupidity and
ignorance the zenawi regime is all about.
Menet
June 27, 2012 at 2:48 am
Tank you bothe with high grade talaned ethiopian sons, we are proud of you, for your gran work to desmantle and put at the World ayes the evil and very venum lyer of Ethiopian colonizar TPLF sistem again and again.
After they abused and killed, jailed and made disparing a lot of Ethiopian sons today the time and all resorces is located to islote ethiopian from the new human technology that is internate acceses and its derivation , that is depply planned to lead Ethiopian to total obscurity.
The time obliegee that Ethiopian stand with unit with out thinking towice, becose of this TPLF plan not to be tolerated in this modern time.
Geleta
June 27, 2012 at 12:58 am
An interesting article.Abe I like the word”Friendly Tyrant”.Meles is terrorist on democracy. we must fight him.Dr.Birahnu ,good analysis and keep it up.
Nigussie
June 27, 2012 at 12:28 am
I doubt this “Yinegal” guy and others like him are true Ethiopian. Such understanding is an accessory for Meles and his team in misleading other fragile fellow citizens into a wrong understanding. How come one generalize that Meles represent the whole Tigrians? Dictators could evolve from any one given ethnic group at any given time in the pages of history. Such perception is a true symptom of lack of civilization. Individuals like “Yinegal” should come to their true identity (mine is Ethiopianism) known for proud tradition of true freedom, our forefathers and mothers died for; living in harmony with others by respecting the race, human being, the way we as individuals want to be respected; help others in doing so and so.
I fully believe that individuals could organize and mobilize others for either satanic or holly deeds; but will never represent others. Now, it is a matter of reconsidering our own stand for the country’s good. It is a choice for Meles and his friends to learn from Mandela, Minilik, Churchill, etc. how this leaders mobilize citizens to elevate their countries from dust and reconstruct them by blood, tears and sweat; or learn from others who destructed their own citizens with their dishonorable leadership style but removed from power with humiliation and disgrace (like through the Arab uprisings). In other words the choice is between HONOR and DISGRACE.
One who disgraces himself never will understand the value of honor. I believe our poor leader disgraces himself and his surroundings by announcing himself proud because he is from an ethnic tested with flames (as if war is constructive); attests that spending time with Esayas, the Eritrean dictator, is like going to universities; calling our flag a simple clothe; declaring the port Assab is just for Esaias’s camels to drink water from; and many other uneducated discourses. I feel very sorry that he is our leader anyways.
We need hundreds of heroic individuals like Dr. Berhanu and Journalist Abebe who has and will voice out the true picture of our poor and unlucky country (Ethiopia) and its citizens; not based on any forms of groups and ethnicity. It is just a matter of time for such true Ethiopians to lift this country up and lead to the sun set. Whoever takes nations of our country and divides it down into ethnic groups is cowardice, not fit to stand as fellow citizen or individual person for his country; but only helps others busy with evil thoughts and deeds and hostile to true Ethiopians.
God bless Ethiopians with wisdom and true education.
Nigussie from Addis
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Bilusooma
June 27, 2012 at 12:10 am
We have to stop talking about TPLF
It is the right time to come and fight for our freedom
We need freedom !!!!!
freedom !!!!
freedom !!!!
freedom !!!!
from Addis Ababa
Asfaw
June 26, 2012 at 8:39 pm
What a great job by Dr. Berhanu and Abebe Gellaw.
I also like to tell Teshome that his courage is only on his TONGUE. And Teshome has not contributed to date even .0000000000009% of what these two bulldog fighters of freedom have for many years.
So, my message to Teshome is to keep his mouth shut and starting walking his talk. I hope he has the guts to come out like Abebe or Dr. Berhanu and do something instead of bragging on the internet.
What Teshome and his types should do is to say a huge “THANK YOU” to these two gutsy fighters for freedom.
Hailu
June 26, 2012 at 8:21 pm
That was indeed a great conversation that both gentle men had with the Aljazera journalists.
Abebe and Dr Birhanu Nega were very articulate and touched upon the tyrany & oppression the Ethiopian people are subjected to under the minority Tigrean government.
I only hoped if the conversation was a bit longer.
Keep up the good work, Abe and Dr Bire. Freedom is on the horizon. Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
yohannes tadesse
June 26, 2012 at 7:33 pm
WELL STATED BY THE RELENTLESS ABEBE GELAW AND DR.BIRHANU.THE REST OF US SHOULD NOT BE SPECTATORS.WE SHOULD BE BE INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY.LET US HAVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN EVERY CITY IN AMERICA OR WHEREEVER WE ARE LIVING .LET US DISCUSS AND ORGANIZE OUR SELVES TO THROW THE TYRNICAL REGIME HEADED BY NO OTHER THAN MELES.LET US DISCUSS HOW WE ARE GOING TO ELIMINATE THE REPRESSION IN ETHIOPIA AND AT THE SAME TIME INFORM THE WORLD TIRELESSLY THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN HELL.LET US GIVE TO ESAT AND OTHER ORGANIZTIONS TILL IT HURTS.LET US BE INVOLVED.
Chuchu
June 26, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Dr Berhanu failed articulating the issue. He should have talk about who TPLF is? This criminals came from a minority of minority and in order to stay power they unlished every control method to control people not to revolt.
Meles and his gangs are from Tigray and in order to stay in power
chombe
June 26, 2012 at 6:55 pm
the truth will prevail,it is a matter of time that the Western governments find a back door exit for this tyran after using him like Mubarak. As for America they never cared for demcracy or human right in the real world but there greed interest and superstion.
ABEBE AND DR.BRIHANU TRUE ETHIOPIAN HEROS OF ALL TIME.
Yinegal
June 26, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Wow… Thanks for narrating beautifully what all patriotic Ethiopians hope for. You have certainly captured the upcoming reality of Ethiopia & Ethiopians. The rule of Meles and Tigre thugs is coming but not soon enough. We shall bring to justice all Tigre thugs who humiliated, tortured, raped, imprisoned, killed Ethiopians and looted Ethiopia to the bone for the last 21 years.
The 21 years of humiliation by Tigre thugs at schools, work places, offices, bars, restaurants, airport, consulates, municipal offices, sport arenas can not come soon enough.
On behalf of 21 years of the Tigre rule victims and survivors, Freedom… Freedom and last but not least JUSTICE.
John A.
June 26, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Dear Readers:
TPLF just got a new $675 million aid. In addition, the UK government has a plan to give the enemy of the Ethiopian people $2 billion over the next four years. We all know that this is not aid money. This is the prize of Meles and his click for the job they are doing destroying Ethiopia.
I think our #1 priority should be to stop the financing of the tyrant by the US and the UK. I see no hope in our struggle as long as these governments keep paying for our our agony.
You may ask “How?”. I don’t have an easy answer. But the first thing we should probably do it unite with all oppressed people of the world who are suffering from the heavy hands of the same superpowers. The enemies coordinate their acts against us. It makes sense for the opressed to act in unity. If people of the world were willing to help the the weak, they could stop economic and diplomatic ties until the superpowers stop financing our suffering.
Demo
June 26, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Well done!
Abe voice for the voiceless GREAT JOB, Current Ethiopian hero! I can see how wide you dimension and matured thinking. Sacrificing your life for this holy deeds. I wishi I could be like you. when you say something it is already in my mind and what I felt.
Bre, due to the dictator, we are missing your talent, educated reasoning and leadership for current Ethiopia to establish REAL DEMOCRACY! Bre means for me REAL DEMOCRACY AS TEDDY (AFRO) means Real Love! Despite the dictator, you are one of the few scholar politician that fight to get democracy for Ethiopia. Please do no give up what so ever is the dictator!
God bless Ethiopia!
temesgen
June 26, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Abebel and Dr Berhanu thanks being voice for the voiceless we will stand for our freedom like libya and egiptian people we need freedom we don’t need dictater leader meles zenawi ethiopian people we divers freedom we will stand and sing our freedom we will give our self for our people american and eroupian leaders stop supporting dictator leader meles zenawi our people need freedom like your people.
ermias
June 26, 2012 at 4:34 pm
great job Abebe and Birhanu.
tibebu
June 26, 2012 at 4:13 pm
abebe….your historic voice still fresh as like as (adeyabeba)thank you man….long live ethiopia.
nunu
June 26, 2012 at 3:57 pm
GREAT!!!