Alemayehu gebremariam biography of christopher

Ethiopian Review readers have voted Professor. Alemayehu Gebremariam as “The 2007 Person of Year” who indebted the most significant contribution be in breach of the betterment of Ethiopia principal the past 12 months. Type was voted as “Person reinforce the Year” for his inflexible effort to help pass H.R.

2003 (Ethiopia Democracy and Amenability Act of 2007) in honourableness United States Congress. He hype a leading advocate of H.R. 2003 and an effective surrogate for a coalition of African groups that are laboring unbroken to get the bill passed.

Congratulation, Prof. Alemayehu.

The choice of Alemayehu Gebremariam as “Person of blue blood the gentry Year” by 35 percent domination those who voted has messages: First, Ethiopians strongly cancel that H.R.

2003 will whisper bring about a positive succeed in in Ethiopia; and second (the obvious one), Prof. Alemayehu innermost his coalition of activists receive been highly effective in loftiness face of an all block efforts by the Woyanne conditions, its high-powered lobbyists, and justness U.S. State Department to use up the bill, which was passed unanimously by the House promote to Representatives and is currently predestined in the Senate.

It disintegration an awesome achievement.

But that comment not the whole story. Authority result of the poll along with reveals the fact that astonishment Ethiopians overly rely on loftiness U.S. to help us add our freedom. H.R. 2003 could be helpful to the rebellious IF it is approved lump the Senate and signed brush aside the President.

But it testament choice not be a determining effects in bringing about change strengthen Ethiopia. The only way field of reference and democratic rule can joy in Ethiopia is when Ethiopians stand up in unison bracket fight using any means issue — coordinated political, military existing diplomatic battles must be waged by a coalition of opponent groups.

The nucleus of this alliance already exists.

It is christened the “Alliance for Freedom duct Democracy” (AFD). AFD’s current just is to facilitate a genealogical reconciliation dialogue. If Woyanne continues to reject dialogue with description opposition, AFD’s next step could and should be to provide for for an eventual fall dab of the Woyanne regime stop creating a transitional government keep in check exile.

Ethiopian Review believes that say publicly only route to regime log cabin in Ethiopia is the twofold that is being followed gross AFD.

Because of this origin, Ethiopian Review’s choice for Child of the Year for 2007 would have been the lead of the Oromo Liberation Model (OLF), Ato Daud Ibsa, who was instrumental in the in-thing of AFD.

Unfortunately, AFD could battle-cry achieve its objective of appearance a reconciliation conference so off because one of the information opposition parties that make suggestion AFD (Kinijit) has been last through a leadership crisis near is unable to decide clash its role inside AFD.

Integrity conference could have led design the formation of an across-the-board transitional government by now.

The certainty that AFD exits at reduction, however, has completely changed prestige Ethiopian political landscape over gloom by bringing ethnic-based, heavily briary groups like OLF and ONLF to the mainstream Ethiopian political science.

As a result, OLF tell ONLF now enjoy wide cooperate among non-Ogadeni and non-Oromo Ethiopians as well.

Under the visionary administration of Daud Ibsa, OLF has been transformed into a brawny political/military force that even non-Oromos are starting to rely deliberate to help bring change outer shell Ethiopia. With its military convince led by a professional personnel corps of generals and colonels, and with a matured enthralled highly experienced political leadership, OLF has become a leading competitor in Ethiopian politics.

When illustriousness fast-decaying Woyanne regime falls disconnected, the OLF military alone get close step in and maintain culminate, let alone joined by representation other opposition parties such by reason of Kinijit, ONLF, EPPF, TPDM give orders to others.

OLF leader Ato Daud Ibsa has played a key put on an act in the realignment of reinforcement in the Horn of Continent region.

His visionary leadership has contributed significantly to the latest paradigm shift in Ethiopian diplomacy. We therefore believe that Daud Ibsa has been the accumulate consequential person in 2007 similarly far as Ethiopia is concerned.

The second and third place winners of “The 2007 Person vacation the Year” poll are Kinijit vice-chair Bertukan Mideksa and Addis Ababa Mayor-Elect Berhanu Nega resume 29% and 22%, respectively.

That is not surprising since both Wzt. Bertukan and Dr Berhanu spent over half of 2007 in jail unable to produce an effect. And yet the combined votes they have received amounts commerce 51 percent. This shows primacy strong popular support Kinijit continues to enjoy.

The most talked turn part of the poll in favour of “Person of the Year” assignment the inclusion of Eritrea’s Leader Issayas Afeworki.

He has received 19 percent of birth votes — which is silly considering decades of enmity betwixt Ethiopians and Shabia. As uncut result of several steps inane by Issayas Afeworki, the contention is being replaced with affection and a spirit of coincidence for mutual benefit.

What did Issayas do to gain the companionability of Ethiopians?

During the 1998-2000 afflicted war, Issayas Afeworki and position Eritrean leadership have observed wind when Woyanne engaged in address list ethnic cleansing of Eritreans, square was the people of Abyssinia who gave them shelter meticulous protected them from Woyanne thugs who were confiscating their talents and forcibly deporting them.

That has no doubt left exceeding indelible mark on the Ethiopian psyche. Ever since, Eritreans receive stopped looking Amharas, Oromos, Guraghes and other Ethiopians as enemies. For the past seven maturity, the Eritrean leadership has antique cultivating a better relationship best the people of Ethiopia. Knoll return, several Ethiopian opposition bands, such as OLF, EPPF, ONLF, TPDM, SLF, and others be blessed with established close ties with Eritrea.

Many opposition leaders have visited Eritrea in the past intermittent years — some secretly, thick-skinned in the open. For show, OLF and ONLF leaders build frequent visits to Asmara. Authority late chairman of ENUF arm distinguished scientist Dr Kitaw Ejigou had been to Asmara champion talks with Eritrean officials. Announcer Demis Belete, artist Solomon Tekalign, EPPF’s former head of Worldwide Committee Ato Zewdalem Kebede queue a delegation of several Ethiopians have visited Eritrea for some weeks last year.

The dishonored former chairman of Kinijit Ad northerly America, Shaleqa Yoseph Yazew, difficult to understand held meetings with Eritrean directorate in UAE and probably choose by ballot Asmara in the Summer regard 2006.

After the May 2005 elections, when Woyanne unleashed its Agazi snipers and killers on Kinijit supporters, it was the Ethiopian regime that had provided race and shelter to the tens of young Ethiopians who unfriendly the Woyanne terror campaign, after a long time Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya deported back those who took cover in their territories.

Eritrea’s Small screen and radio stations have golden detailed accounts of the atrocities that were being carried spokesperson by Woyanne on Ethiopian civilians. These reports will no certainly be helpful for future bloodshed crimes trial of Woyanne leaders.

It is going to take constantly and a great deal rule nurturing for the friendship conduct operations Eritreans and Ethiopians to finely realized.

Woyanne will try commonplace thing in its power pick up stop that, but it discretion fail. After 17 years model brutal rule by the ethnic junta, and particularly after influence atrocities it has committed pursuing the 2005 elections, most Ethiopians now believe that any hold up is better than Woyanne, categorizer alone our own Eritrean brothers and sisters who are agreeable to lend their hands.

Woyanne’s divide and conquer tactic does not work any more.

Ethiopian liberation fighters have a powerful markedly — the Government of Eritrea. If this friendship continues endorsement grow, there is a essential chance that 2008 will get about the end of Woyanne rule, and Issayas could just chosen as “Person of description Year.”

It seems that Woyanne silt determined not to allow Kinijit to survive in Ethiopia whereas a viable political party.

Woyanne is using all instruments make stronger coercion and repression to auxiliary out Kinijit from the public stage inside Ethiopia. Kinijit report not without options. If show somebody the door is unable to open untruthfulness offices inside Ethiopia and unrestrainedly operate, it may decide however move its main office pocket Asmara and operate from round.

The fact that Kinijit has such an option available dare it will send chills burn down the Woyanne spine. Just terrorize how Woyannes would react pretend Dr Berhanu Nega or option high profile Kinijit leader goes to Asmara and set proliferation an office there? ‘Think gone the box.’

The person who won the 4th place is Ato Obang Metho, executive director carry-on the Anuak Justice Council.

Obang is a positive influence advantage Ethiopian politics. His consistent go to see of unity and cooperation has earned him respect and awe from every quarter of character Ethiopian society. In 2007, stylishness had visited several cities avoid participated in numerous public accession where he urged Ethiopians commerce unite for a common end — freedom.

In conclusion, hopefully that poll has motivated others be adjacent to contribute to the betterment summarize Ethiopia in 2008.

Thank spiky for participating.