by Kirubeal Bekele
Our movement is not a hobby and favorite past time nor a battle ground for big egos. Let us treat our movement like our
own lives. These martyrs have given their lives for it. Let us respect the movement these martyrs died for.
We have raised many questions about ENTC (Ethiopian National Transition Council) since its conception. Most of us advised and suggested recommendations on many occasions. One of the most important was for Dr. Fisseha and his group to talk to other political and civil organizations to find the best way to mobilize the forces in the Diaspora. Many expected a representative and all inclusive transition council. But that did not happen.
But now it looks like many forces who are playing critical roles in the fight against TPLF for years are missing from the council. A transitional council that do not have these varied and relevant parties can not be considered as a valid transitional council. It is going to be just a one party or group of people who have similar interests. And by definition, this is not the meaning of a transitional council.
Don’t take me wrong. ENTC members have every right to start any organization they want to for whatever reason they believe in. They have the right to declare themselves as G7 or EPRP or Andinet etc did and do whatever they choose to decide. Unfortunately, as it is now, ENTC in no way have the constituency of a genuine Transition council that will prepare the way for a democratic government in Ethiopia. This is not a rocket science. All you have to look is its composition.
A working transitional council should include not only genuine and honest activists but it should also include those who are playing an important and even critical roles on the ground in the Ethiopian political discourse today no matter what we think about them. This is especially true at this hour in Ethiopia where we are witnessing a transition in terms of the nature of government in the absence of Zenawi for whatever reason, sickness or death.
A wise recommendation to ENTC group is to ignore the battle of egos and transform this organization into a genuine transitional council by including all parties or organizations who have a big stake in the political process. Otherwise, ENTC will turn into a group with a big title that barks a lot but with no teeth to bite and will have nothing to show for it. It will end up repeating the cycle of failures ENTC is known for accusing other political parties in the Diaspora in the first place. Nobody is interested in picking a fight with fellow democrats who are after our common enemy. We may disagree on some issues but we don’t have to be disagreeable and declare a nasty war against each other while the enemy is still alive and kicking. This is what happened during the heydays of Kinjit that saved Monster Zenawi. And most of us won’t tolerate such a treasonous act from anyone at this critical hour in Ethiopia unless one is secretly working as an undercover agent for TPLF .
Please Click here to hear Addisu Abebe’s interview with Dr. Fisseha Eshete and Ato Sileshi Tilahun on VOA where some concerns related to ENTC was raised during the interview. Instead of becoming defensive and rolling their sleeves for a nasty fight to defend their big egos, ENTC activists should heed those points raised in the interview and change or improve their acts if they want to succeed in their dream. They have every right not to accept the recommendations but there is a price to pay. It will have consequences. And we are addicted to it. It is called failure and defeat.
Gelanew
August 14, 2012 at 10:56 pm
I always try to see some ones personality and morality from what the person says/write. Go back to Dr Fissiha’s 1st interview with ESHAT, he said some thing like “Habesha gar mawrat yastelahal…” (I am not sure if this is what he exactly said word by word, though). This just tells a lot about his thoughts and more. I agree that as society, we have a problem, however it is bad indicator for a would be politician to hear him saying such a statement and generalize. We need people who understand the whole problem of our society, not only EPRDF’s. G7′s book NETSANET says a lot about the problem of our society and may be parallel to that of the EPRDF’s. Many of us might have not noticed what Dr Taddesse Biru’s Yetimihirt Bilichita…..It is all about Personal Development, included is morality, building self confidence, honesty etc.. That is what we are lacking. Bravo Dr Taddesse, Bravo G7, timret and all others who are working with them. Beterefe YeElias neger chawota new. ENKUAN POLETIKEGNA, GAZETEGNAM MEHON AYGEBAWUM NEBER…Do you remember when he pick Esayas as the best man of Ethiopia some time in the past? He is a laughable guy; I always visit his site for some thing good and laughable though.
I also want to admire Askale’s comment. What a great mind!
Selamawit Solomon
August 9, 2012 at 7:32 am
we consume tons of energy time and money in pal chat rooms, interviwes and web page comments–
if we really wanted freedom We must start to ORGANIZE-UNITED AND ARMED then we can be taken Seriously by any potential supporters for our cause to form and found -THE FREE AND DEMOCRACTIC ETHIOPIA
Abeba
August 8, 2012 at 12:22 pm
I was told to shut my mouth when I raised questions regarding ENTC now things getting worst, I found out from the VOA interview which Elias Kifle wasn’t happy with it, the man who claimed to be ENTC’s Spokes person or whatever Ato Sleshi was Elias Kifle’s partner. When Elias travel to Eritrea Sleshi was with him when he left EPPF (Arbegnoch Ginbar) Seleshi was with him, when he formed ENTC Sleshi was with him is that by coincidences?
I found out why Elias Kifle was mad on VOA. Addisu of the VOA announced that it was Elias Kifle who run the ENTC election and it was his friend Sleshi elected… What a shame :)
ENTC came to the field to weaken the momentum created by Ginbot7 and OLF. The so called Dr. Fisseha who sold his university to Alamudi with a bunch of money no one knows what he is up to.
Dr. Fisseha cadres are already attacking ESAT tv in the paltalk rooms. We are watching!
Hamid
August 8, 2012 at 9:05 am
After listening to the interview I too wrote an opinion about this new ‘ENTC’. However, as usual my comment was censored by Elies Kifle because it was not a comment he is expecting from his gullible followers.
Sileshi Tilahun who was fired from ARBEGNOCH GINBAR for being a trouble maker, Fiseha Eshetu who has no history, Elias Kifle who has been making solo efforts to find a miraculous shortcut towards ARAT KILLO, founded a transitional council to save Ethiopia? That, my friends, is a mother of all bedtime histories. Instead of making fool of themselves by begging foreign countries, why don’t they work with the newely formed TIMIRET/OLF(Kemal) coalition. If this act of the trio is not because of power mongering, then it is because of a carefully planned subterfuge to sabotage the success of the opposition against TPLF.
Beahilu
August 8, 2012 at 7:04 am
Thanks for your article, NTC must overcome EGO to do his work in truth and to do the right thing.
´´SOME YEMEGESTE SEMAYATE KULEFE NEW´´
´´FASTING IS THE KEY TO HEAVEN´´
DEL LE EWNTE ETHIOPIA
LET TEH TRUTH PREVAIL
FREEDOM, FREEDOM, FREEDOM
Eribey Agere
August 7, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Every time, I read Askale’s comment, it makes my day. I feel like she is stealing my thoughts almost all the time. Her clarity of thought and common sense is simply outstanding. Her comments and suggestions to ECADF’s comment section is simply priceless.
Good job, Askale for your immense contribution in clearing the fog and the confusion.
Askale Dama
August 7, 2012 at 7:58 pm
I have listened to the VOA interview. It was excellent. Welcome to the world of free and independent media. A few weeks ago, I was hoping that ENTC actually meant what the name implies – a congress of all or most of the opposition leaders and other stakeholders. Owners of ENTC should change their name if they want to make sense. Dr Fissiha said that he was envisioning a civil rights movement. Why shouldn’t they call it just that.
Here is the problem they are facing. First, it is totally legitimate that people need to know everythnig about the organizers so long as they seek the support of the people. Second, they need to know that power is to politics as energy is to physics. There is no politics without the question of power. The question of power is about the consent of the people. ENTC can’t talk about ‘transition’, ‘council’ or ‘national’ so lightly and seek to be taken seriously. They need to go back become clear exactly what is it they want to do.If their intention is to participation in the opposition to remove woyane, then the agenda is not the organization of transitional authority but the removal of Woyane – they need to join the opposition as a positive force doing their part. Finally, on the question of the background of the organizers, here is the deal. As the opposition becomes stronger, there will be all kinds of elements defecting from Woyane and coming to side of the opposition. It is called the new realignment of forces. We welcome that. We shouldn’t punish those forces and person leaving woyane and seek to allign with the opposition. But these elements need to be very clear that it is not a market place of power seeking and blind ambition. One has to be elected by the people to possess any kind of power. one has to be very clear that the removal of Woyane is serious job that requires clarity of purpose, serious knowledge of modern politics and the art and integrity of political action. As we speak, there is a single agenda – the removal of an ethnic dictatorship. Those who intend to do just that have no reason not to unite with those of us who are doing just that. Folks in ENTC need to examine their motives and come clean. It is not about their right to create their organization. Anybody can do that. It is about being part of the Ethiopian freedom movement.
tef
August 7, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Elias. I heard the interview promptly. I could not be able to find anything wrong with it. Both sides gave a sincere and to the point opinions.
A piece of advice to you: PLEASE DON’T RUSH TO JUDGEMENT, especially during this very critical and prbably a turning point for ETHIOPIA.
wubt
August 7, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Our problem is i guess every one wants to lead. no one is willing to be lead. why no all this ENTC people come under one of the parties that are already established? why do they want to confuse and fragment the people.
Belay Zeleke
August 7, 2012 at 6:49 am
I wrote the following comment as a response to Ato Elias Kifle’s comment entitled “VOA interviews ENTC leaders; Addisu Abebe’s conduct was shameful”
ER (Ato Elias Kifle) censored my comment. Yemiyategib injera kemitadu yastawuqal.
My comment was:
I honestly am not interested on a certain journalist named Addisu however, the questions he asked on VOA sounds very objective and timely regarding the newly formed NTC in the US. It is a subject, which a whole lot of compatriots were asking, debating, and trying to understand the compositions and vision of the council.
As an example, Libya’s NTC was formed and announced in the city of Bengasi.
National Council of Syria is a coalition of Syrian opposition groups based in the border area between Turkey and Syria.
Egypt’s oppositions were organized in Egypt itself and were active in Tahrir Square also known as “Martyr Square” etc..
The Yemeni has formed their national council with 143 members from broad arrays of the society calling for democracy.
In regards to the NTC of Ethiopia, it limited itself on the Diaspora thousands of kilometres away from the country. I therefore do not understand why ato Elias Kifle is so much offended and found the interview unfair, abusive, disrespectful, and hostile toward the ENTC leaders. If the NTC can get offended because of such simple interview what is going to happen when the going gets harder and more confrontational. What happens when the situation goes out of control and gets violent? Is the council a kind of cosmetic beautifying waiting for the moment of usurping power when the chance is there?
So Ato Elias what are you expecting from journalists and from concerned Ethiopians vis-à-vis the newly formed ENTC in the US?
Moreover, we will appreciate it when the interviewees explain their thoughts either out and out in English or in Amharic or other national languages. The guramaile or Amha-lish, which the NTC members use is not exemplary, be it to our nation or to our youth in general.
Death to Woyane and their stooges Long Live Ethiopia and its people!
Thank you!
Anonymous
August 7, 2012 at 6:08 am
Elias Kifle, the editor of Ethiopian Review is infantile and at times delusional. He embraced Shabia and Esayas Afeworki for a while, it is now Fissiha and ENTC. Not many Ethiopians give any attention to Elias and he ends up looking for attention in all the wrong places – in so doing cause a lot of harm by enticing the gullibles.
Dr Fissiha was a good friend of Genet Zewde, the former minister of education, and another criminal ally of Meles and the rest of the Woyanes – until he changed sides six months ago. His former private college was simply a bisiness where those with money can buy academic credentials in the same way commodities from a store. His motive was money & the ultimate greed!
I urge Medrek, G7, OLF, ONLF & Timret to stay away from this attention seeking opportunist.
Thank you Addisu – you are one of the best journalists in our Ethiopian community.
tolla
August 7, 2012 at 4:29 am
I heard the VOA interview with Dr. Fisseha and his other buddy. I could say it was the best recent VOA interview. I would like to thank both Addisu and VOA Amharic service, of course Tizita too (she is my best?) back to the story…
As we might expect Elias Kifle Ethiopian review editor wasn’t happy by the performance of his new Sheriff Dr. Fisseha and his 10th or 20th organization (ENTC). He gave a title to the interview “VOA’s Shameless…” I don’t remember. Seriously I don’t even read his tabloid contents, I just give a glance on the title. Doesn’t that amazing Elias Kifle the master of failures want me to follow his new Sheriff?
Dear Elias I have advice to you, you could be successful if you stop undermining and disrespecting the average Ethiopians!
tebebe
August 7, 2012 at 2:51 am
It is not for no reason Elias Seleshi Dr. Fissha Ertiria.. Co is founded. their motive to elongate the age of tplf or to protect the interest of Isaias regime.
Eshete Tekle
August 7, 2012 at 2:24 am
Don’t polarize please. Plenty of time ahead.
Me & Myself
August 7, 2012 at 1:26 am
Dear Kirubel, I read your article. But why do we always want groups to be buddies? Why do we want to spend valuable time and energy to see Dr. Birhanu and Dr.Fisseha hug in public? I have followed ENTC closely, they have things that are promising and obviously some weaknesses. But I have never heard them exclude anybody.
G7, OLF, ONLF…etc are also moving in their own directions, they have thier own trials and tribulations and they are doing their very best in chipping away the concrete wall of the TPLF. G7 or ENTC or any other pary or movement might have a momentum at one point in time, every Ethiopian must give their undivided support to that group or movement.
Everybody has some weakness, expecting perfection is being unrealistic let the parties fail, if they have to fail, let them learn from their mistake. Trying to make them agree like bed fellows is wasting energy and resource that is badly needed to hit TPLF hard below the belt. Let them earn the support of the people.
The important thing for every Ethiopian in the mean time is to seriously think of regaing that militancy back into our psychic. We need to get rid of that nasty habit of kneeling down to any thug. Our fathers had it, we lost it, we need to regain it back. That is the ultimate guarantee of freedom.
When any group moves in the direction of the target (TPLF) desicevely it will diservingly attract the genuine interest of Ethiopians.
So my brother Kirubel, I understand you mean well but it is high time for any party to earn the support of Ethiopians. If they can’t handle this they are not meant for the task. It is a nasty job, you have to bite the bullet, that is what it takes.
Let us Ethiopians (everyone of us) dig deep and reinvent ourselves with that characteristic Ethiopian militancy, in the mean time I hope the political parties or groups will live up to the task ahead.
Eshete Tekle
August 7, 2012 at 12:28 am
Please let’s hear each other and come as a united voice for the voiceless fellow Ethiopians at home. What had been mentioned by Ato Addisu are a concern of most of us. Why not an inclusive transitional council at this juncture? Where in the point would G7/ Timret coalition and other prominent stakeholders take part???? So please let the transitional council take note of all that had been said by the interview and take appropriate action. We are fed up of the mere promise of poleticians so far and please try to be inclusive as much as possible and let’s get rid of the tyranny at home. I am rather less bothered for the protochol during the interview which ofcourse should be corrected.
Thank you all.
Nagasso
August 6, 2012 at 11:46 pm
In recent days, ENTC was and is being promoted by none other than Elias Kifle, the editor of Ethiopian Review. Needless to say Elias has now jumped the ship from the bandwagon of promoting Shabia and Isayas Afeworki and to no surprise, now promoting ENTC. ENTC’s rush to obtain diplomatic recognition by Forein powers, without being recognized by Ethiopians is simply a joke – and fits well with the ER editors’ resume of delusion.
Whoa are those constituting ENTC? Who is Dr. Fissiha? Any credible background in the promotion of freedom and democracy in Ethiopia? Why are organizations such as Medrek, G7, OLF, ONLF stay away from the so called ENTC?
Dr. Fissiha was Genet Zewde, former Minister of Education and the ultimate confidant of Meles Zenawi. He made tons of money peddling mediocre education by simply exchanging academic credentials for the highest bidder. The guy didn’t care about education, all he cared about was money. Greed is his motivation and opportunist who waits for vacuum to promote himself.
Fissiha with assistance from Genet Zewde was even able to tap to foreign aid in the form of Canadian teachers who were given to the Ministry of Education. With Genet and other Woyane allies, Fissiha managed to tap to the Ethiopian treasury at the expense of the poor children of Ethiopia, who are not priviledged to get the foreign assistance meant to alleviate poverty and educate the poor. He is a con man, crafty, manipulative, dangerous opportunist and two faced individual – and no wonder the VOA journalist respectfully unmasked him.
Needless to say representative of political organizations who fought and continue to fight the TPLF/Woyanne tyranny through thin and thick are avoiding ENTC for its questionable motive and direction.