Events in Ethiopia have taken a disturbing turn following reports that a teacher in his late 20s burnt himself alive last week in protest against the ongoing brutal clampdown on dissent in the country. According to reports Yenesew Gebre made an impassioned plea at a protest gathering before dowsing himself in petrol and setting himself on fire.
Addressing fellow protestors he is reported to have said: ’I want to show to all that death is preferable than a life without justice and liberty and I call upon my fellow compatriots to fear nothing and rise up to wrench their freedom and rights from the hands of the local and national tyrants.’
It is understood that Gebre died from his injuries three days later at the Tercha city local hospital.
Ethiopia’s terrorism charges against journalists critical of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government are becoming vague and ludicrous. The authorities have failed to provide any hard evidence and should drop these charges immediately.
Tom Rhodes, Committee to Protect Journalists
Renewed crackdown
According to sources who spoke to the satellite TV station, ESAT, Yenesew had been campaigning against injustice at the hands of ruling party officials. It also appears that he had been fired from his teaching position because of his political views.
The event happened at a public meetng on November 11, aimed at resolving a series of local protests.
It was during the meeting that Yenesew Gebre reportedly spoke out against Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s regime. When security agents tried to stop him, Yeneneh walked out of the meeting hall and set himself alight infront of the other protesters gathered in the compound.
‘While fire was engulfing his whole body, he was calling for justice, freedom and democracy and urged people to rise up against the oppressors. He wanted martyrdom … he chose to sacrifice his life for the sake of liberty and justice,’ a local source who witnessed the shocking incident told ESAT.
According to close friends, Yenesew Gebre was widely respected and well known for raising serious issues and challenging authorities.
In a bid to quash any further protests in the area, the federal police and the security services have reportedly sealed off the town. The regime has cut telephone lines to prevent the news of Yenesew’s death from spreading across Ethiopia, according to ESAT.
Zelalem Tessema, spokesman from Mass Advocacy of Communities, Ethiopia (MACE) a diaspora group based in the UK, told the Bureau: ‘This unprecedented form of self-sacrifice has caused shock and anger amongst his compatriots both at home and abroad. Gebre’s action demonstrates the high level of despair prevailing amongst the public at large that is firmly under the brutal rule of Meles Zenawi.’
Concerted Crackdown
Yenesew Gebre’s death follows a recent investigation by the Bureau and BBC Newsnight into allegations of torture, repression and the political manipulation of foreign aid. The report was strongly denied by representatives of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
Read the full investigation Ethiopia Aid Exposed here.
The Bureau has been told of a concerted crackdown following the broadcast, particularly in the southern region. ‘Sadly there has been a crackdown by the security forces on people who have suspected to have cooperated with the programme,’ said Zelalem Tessema. ‘And certainly we’ve got reports that people have been arrested, some people have been questioned by security forces and some people have left the area in fear of what would follow.’
Yenesew Gebre portrait
Widespread Oppression
The crackdown has intensified and spread to other areas of the country, according to members of the Ethiopian community in the UK. The Bureau has learned that at least 40 opposition politicians, their supporters and journalists have been arrested by security forces in recent months. Many are being held in the Central Investigation Centre in Maikelawi where allegations of torture are rife.
The most prominent are Bekele Gerba and Olbana Lelisa, opposition leaders in Oromia, Andualaem Arage the vice chairman of Unity Democracy and Justice Party and the prominent journalist Eskinder Nega.
Related article: Reign of terror in Maikelawi detention centre
The government has been accused of using sweeping anti-terror legislation passed in 2009 to crush dissent. The definitions of terrorist activity under the law are broad and ambiguous. It permits a clamp down on political demonstrations and public criticisms of government policy. The law criminalises any reporting that authorities deem to ‘encourage’ or ‘provide moral support’ to groups the government has labelled ‘terrorists.’
Media Targeted
The legislation is also being used to stifle Ethiopia’s media. Last week a judge in Ethiopia’s federal high court charged six journalists with terrorism. According to the New York based campaign group – the Committee to Protect Journalists, (CPJ), 10 journalists have now been charged with terrorism related offences since June.
‘Ethiopia’s terrorism charges against journalists critical of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s government are becoming vague and ludicrous,’ said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. ‘The authorities have failed to provide any hard evidence and should drop these charges immediately.’
In an interview with Agence France-Presse, government spokesman Shimelis Kemal accused the journalists of ‘abetting, aiding, and supporting a terrorist group.’
And the crack-down is not confined to Ethiopian nationals. Earlier this month an Ethiopian court said two Swedish journalists must face charges of helping a terrorist group and entering the country illegally. Reporter Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan Persson were charged with terrorism after they were arrested crossing from Puntland into Ethiopia’s troubled Ogaden region with members of the banned Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in July.
If found guilty, they could face a maximum of 15 years in jail.
Related article: Ethiopian media gagged by anti-terror laws
In August, a delegation from Amnesty International was expelled from Ethiopia. Speaking shortly after her expulsion from the country, Amnesty’s Claire Beston told the Bureau: ‘Civil society activists have said the situation is rapidly deteriorating – to use their words. Journalists are more afraid even than they were before, and we are even talking about a significant climate of fear – all those groups are already operating in a climate of fear.’
Foreign Tourists under Surveillance
In a separate move it has also been reported that the government is targeting tour operators to monitor the movements of foreign nationals on holiday following the Bureau’s original investigation. The Bureau/Newsnight team entered the country on tourist visas posing as holidaymakers.
While fire was enulfing his whole body, he was calling for justice, freedom and democracy and urged people to rise up against the oppressors. He wanted martyrdom … he chose to sacrifice his life for the sake of liberty and justice.
Witness to Yenesew Gebre’s self-immolation
According to the Indian Ocean Newsletter, representatives of the tour operators active in the country were summoned to a meeting at the ministry of transport in Addis Ababa last month. It says that during the meeting the tour operators were blatantly asked to include an Ethiopian intelligence officer from now on.
It says: ‘According to one source present at the meeting, the instructions from the government official specified that the tour operators should meet the agent’s expenses. The agent’s job will be to keep a watch on all the movements of the visitors and determine their reason for going to Ethiopia.
‘This measure follows on a recent BBC report criticising the situation in the Ogaden region and the political use the Ethiopian government made of international aid,’ states the Newsletter. ‘It would appear that from now on the Ethiopian authorities want to prevent foreign journalists from entering the country with tourist visas and travelling around the country.’
The Bureau asked the Ethiopian Embassy in London for a response to the death of Yenesew Gebre and the allegations concerning the current government crack-down. It is yet to respond.
November 15th, 2011 at 9:20 pm (#)
Following white man’s utopian dream it what made Africa so weak for centuries! Educated men and women with so much idealistic pipe dream with no idea on how to make Ethiopia the same as America overnight.
The first freedom is self-sufficiency in food, clean water and shelter!
Ethiopia hasn’t achieved these simple freedom yet!
November 15th, 2011 at 9:50 pm (#)
Why do you always do this? Is it only negative news that you can report?
November 16th, 2011 at 1:53 am (#)
He is cryz stupid
November 16th, 2011 at 2:53 am (#)
i feel sorry about his miscalculation and i don’t think HABESH people they follow him just he killed himself for nothing anyways rest in peace
November 16th, 2011 at 7:17 am (#)
This was not our tradition but it clearly shows the anger and frustration we Ethiopians have against the regime which looked democrat for his Western allies but tyrant like Gadafi. The government Tv is abusing all kinds of sources towards the benefit of the ruling party but we know that this government doesn’t have the trust of the people to continue a day in power. When will this be finished how can we be heard? I do not know but I beleiev when many start to respond to the truth, there will be huge change and woe to you who torture innocent citizens for their truthful confrontation of your injustice.
November 16th, 2011 at 8:55 am (#)
WOW,i think if it’s true then we have to wake up and do something about it.long live Ethiopia!!!
November 16th, 2011 at 9:47 am (#)
High inflation, high unemployment, extreme poverty and brutal oppression is what the Ethiopian people are faced with. Despite all this the US and EU continue to support one of the most brutal regimes in the Africa, in order to serve their interest in the region. The whole world is ought to know that the US and EU do not stand for democracy as they continue to give financial, military and political support for Zenawi’s regime. There will come a time when the Ethiopian people will hold US and EU accountable for every Ethiopian political activist who has been languishing in jail for years without a trial, for every for every political activist who has been executed and for every political activist who has been tortured.
November 16th, 2011 at 2:34 pm (#)
Enough it must be.
If there can be any accommodation with Weyane, it is so that it relinquishes every bit of what it has stolen and stand before the law for the crimes it has committed.
It is time that our religious leaders take a step to claiming back our country and its spirit.
Please remove their flag from the top.
November 16th, 2011 at 3:20 pm (#)
Although, I don’t whish anyone to die, we all have to believe in the reality around the world that nothing will happen without the involvement of death. We cannot give a single place in the world, even in the so called Democrat States/Countries, the coming of change with no suffering, imprisonment and torture to the extent of death.
I always don’t understand why we Ethiopians think that America or Europe to librate us. We have to think, who are we in their eyes/mind? Do they have any single interst about the sufferings of Ethiopian people? I think we have to be able to get a little insight what is going on round the world so that we can fight for ourselves. There’re great Ethiopian who continuously fighting to over through the Woanye regim, but compared to our number these people are insignificant. It must be everbody’s business.
I wish his soul to rest in peace, he is our hero.
November 16th, 2011 at 4:15 pm (#)
Its always been like this, Brutal African leaders who serve western interest are favored even if they are killing their own people. What Meles is doing is no different from what Mubarak of Egypt was doing. Kill your own people and get money from the west so that the Youth will keep begging the west for better future tomorrow. This is absurd and clumsy of such leaders. Meles has divided Ethiopians in Tribes, fitting Tigre against Oromo and Ahmara. This is not good, they are all Ethiopian People. This got to stop Please! I don’t want to see my African suffering like this. Please STOP MELLES!
November 16th, 2011 at 5:08 pm (#)
if this can’t start a revolution for freedom, nothing will, and the poor ethiopian people are doomed to unprecedented suffering for another 20 years !
November 16th, 2011 at 6:31 pm (#)
Unfortunately there will be more sacrifices until the love affair of Meles and the WEST is over and he faces International Justice. It is not possible to loot and kill indefinately, it is a matter of time but Meles will end up like Mubarek and other “friendly tyrants” who are selling their country and people to please their masters.
November 16th, 2011 at 7:37 pm (#)
Dear all readers of this unsettling sacrifices this young man made;
Injustice, intimidation, lack of freedom of expression and absence of independence judiciary system, government controlled defence and financial sectors, suppression and imprisonment of dissents isn’t justifiable in any form or shape. That is why, it seems to me that this young man took his own life to explain this to the world and to his fellow countrymen and women.
Yes, this is one of the bravest peoples Ethiopia has ever had. His action is equivalent to that of Mengistu Neway and Garmame Neway’s sacrifices (when brutal Emperor Hailesilassie’s monarch system equally brutalised peoples of the country) for the liberty, equality and justices that all Ethiopian nations deserve to enjoy -regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, political affiliations and believes-the systems all developed nations of the world fully enjoy!.
This young man’s heroic action of sacrifices for best of humanity doesn’t need to be in vain. All Ethiopian nations’s people’s need to stand up against relentlessly encroaching injustices imposed on them by the over 2 decades old tyranny of single ethnic dominance that relegated the country to the least in the world in all aspects of life and human rights by virtually making it it an example of all round human misery in the world!!
Meles’s tyrant regime must go!! The people’s of the country need to come together -not to repeat the past barbaric systems-but to start a new country where its all peoples’ feel equal stake holders where no one tells others what to do with their lives and how to behave on their own soils; where they can make genuine decisions on who to lead them and who to help their country to get rid of a century old abject poverty, human misery and relentless human rights violations!!
We all Ethiopians need to be far sighted to effect the said changes with liberated mind on equality of all! Otherwise, the cries of all serves to the advantages of the tyrants which must be avoided!!
Kambata Xoola
Sidama Diaspora!!
November 16th, 2011 at 10:20 pm (#)
Ohh so sad about the man who burn him self in Ethiopia uuuu want to say my tank ashen for the Bureau of investigative journalist for exposing this brutal regime. Ethiopia will be free from pseudo democratic rule
November 17th, 2011 at 2:18 am (#)
Indeed, Ethiopia is a paradox.- “The New African Rhodesia” where the majority lives under tyranny, torture and subordination by its own minority crafted and lead by a brutal dictator (Meles Zenawi). The US and EU governments and their “free media” are making a great mistake by deliberately ignoring the outcry of people from the most populous nation in Africa for justice, democracy and human rights. What else should happen for the International Community to respond? Why is Libya and Egypt more important than Ethiopia? Why is the International media silent when journalists and free press activists are being hunted like rats by Zenawi’s thugs in the streets of Addis Ababa?
November 17th, 2011 at 4:39 am (#)
From where i start confused in Ethiopia life is in hand of EPRDF if you are not throwing in to land of heal. Ethiopian authority thinks the creater of Ethiopian they are giving us by measure any thing even they do not want to think any body with out their permission if you think you can not speak if you speak your luck torch. where we live? life in Ethiopia dread full.every minute fright live then the man burnt himself it will continue and at the last only TPLF will live. where we live? where we go? it is so dread full all Ethiopian must unit no body will not help us.
November 17th, 2011 at 6:59 am (#)
Whoever runs this establishment is an enemy of Ethiopia and Ethiopians- I am absolutely certain that your constant hammering of the government of Ethiopia does not originate from your claimed missions but rather is filled with an aspiration for the demise of our nation Ethiopia as a whole.
November 17th, 2011 at 8:49 am (#)
RIP For the Guy who Burnt him Self and am really sorry and ashamed to be called Ethiopian with This narrow ppl who are Hungr for Power. Eritrea is working hard to devided Ethiopia in to 4 or 5 Small nation But Sadly there are a lot of Power Mongers who are Working With Eritrean Terroris Governement.Same on Thes who are Working With Shabian Terroris Group God Bless our Leader and our Country.)
November 17th, 2011 at 5:40 pm (#)
Well, my sympathy to the families and friends of this young man. His action is out of frustration and powerlessness. This world has highly opressed the weak and the powerless of any form. The wealthy and political elments of the globe are synergizing to sustain their power and control over the poor. Both dictators and elected leaders are part of the opressing pool.
The recent movements of the OCCUPIERS in USA and Europe are another forms of movement of the powerless against economic and social injustice in the West and in the Globe.
The case of countries like Ethiopia is different. The sovereign descendant minds of the Ethiopians could not bear the operation. They don’t have say should shut their mouth when:
- they become landlocked;
- parts of their lands and economic opportunities are sold out, become neocolonized;
- they are told not to say anything against the gov;
- they are ruled by a group which don’t seem Ethiopian in actions;
- etc.
But I disagree with the action of Wondwossen. He would have burned or murdered some one from the tplf junta than killing himself.
Rest in peace WG
November 17th, 2011 at 6:50 pm (#)
Yenesew’s sacrifice is not in vain. Yenesew’s action is a critical step in the national struggle for freedom and rule of law in Ethiopia. It is unique in the annals of Ethiopian history.
The people’s slowness to respond is due to inability to start and generate a critical MASS. The formation of the critical MASS is inevitable. But once this MASS develops, I hate to contemplate what will follow. The longer it takes to form this mass, the more complete is the response.Remember what followed the Emperor’s and the Derg’s demise, or more recently the case of Libya and the end of Ghaddafi! Over the last 20 years, Woyane continued to perpetrate genocidal crime against tribes in Shewa, Gambella, Sidama, etc in the name of a Tribe.
November 17th, 2011 at 7:03 pm (#)
Medical record, his families and local communities confirmed Yenesew Gebre, who burned himself to death in Tercha town in Dawro Zone, to have mental illness.
Sources told WIC that his death has no relation with maladministration and injustice as some media propagate; especially VOA Amharic program and ESAT.
His families, General Manager of Tercha Hospital, Dawro Zone Police Commander and Chief Administrator of the Zone confirmed the information being disseminated by some overseas media about Yenesew’s death as fake and groundless.
General Manager of Tercha Hospital, Mebratu Masebo, said that Yenesew had severe mental illness and he had been attending various treatments at the hospital when he was alive.
His medical record at the hospital indicates that he had attended mental treatment at various times and passed away on Monday at the hospital.
Tadelech Bekele, resident of Tercha town and the victim’s elder sister, said Yenesew had served as a teacher in Silte Zone for some time after graduating from Hawassa Teachers College. Due to his mental problem, he quit his job and returned to Tercha town, where he attended medical care at the hospital.
Following improvement in his health condition, he began working as a teacher in Tercha Vocational and Technical School. But after seven months of service, he stopped his work as his health condition began to deteriorate, she said.
“My brother always asked me to give him money for Khat (narcotic plant), cigarette and drinks. After drinking, he always disturbs residents of the area including me and may families. In 2011, I informed to police my brother to be detained. After that he disappeared from the area for two years,” she said.
“He returned to Tercha early September this year. Beginning from late October, his health continued to deteriorate and he began disturbing my family. He lit himself on fire last week as I was preparing to apply to police for his detention,” she said.
She further expressed her anger over the wrong information disseminated by VOA Amharic service and ESAT about the death of her brother, which according to her utilized him for their hidden political agenda.
According to Tadelech, her brother was buried in accordance with Christian tradition in the presence of his families and friends. The report by VOA and ESAT about his burial ceremony was baseless and it is a shame for these media to mislead the public, she said.
Representative of Dawro Zone Police Commander, Deputy Commander Bako Tina, on his part said that Yenesew is known to have mental illness.
He confirmed being contacted by the victim’s sister for Yenesew’s detention three years ago. He denied earlier media reports surrounding the circumstances of Yenesew’s death and his burial ceremony.
According to Bako, his body was buried in Kale Hiwot Church in the presence of his families and friends.
Chief Administrator of Dawro Zone, Israel Atara, on his part said the report by VOA and ESAT about Yenesew’s death is unfair and called it total fabrications.
Yenesew had no participation in the local community’s request to shift the zonal town from Tercha to Waka, he said.
“The false propaganda being disseminated to incite violence and terror in Ethiopia by these groups, labeled as terrorist organizations, will have no place among Ethiopians,” said the chief administrator.
The administrator and family of the victim urged overseas media, especially ESAT and VOA, to restrain from inciting violence in Ethiopia by propagating unfounded and wrong information.
Their attempt to link Yenesew’s death with Tunisia’s Mohamed Bouazizi clearly indicates their feeling of hopelessness. Ethiopia has already passed the kind of civil war which recently occurred in most Arab countries some 20 years ago.
The fast economic growth Ethiopia is registering amid the current global economic downturn, testifies the government’s commitment for development.
Medical record, his families and local communities confirmed Yenesew Gebre, who burned himself to death in Tercha town in Dawro Zone, to have mental illness.
Sources told WIC that his death has no relation with maladministration and injustice as some media propagate; especially VOA Amharic program and ESAT.
His families, General Manager of Tercha Hospital, Dawro Zone Police Commander and Chief Administrator of the Zone confirmed the information being disseminated by some overseas media about Yenesew’s death as fake and groundless.
General Manager of Tercha Hospital, Mebratu Masebo, said that Yenesew had severe mental illness and he had been attending various treatments at the hospital when he was alive.
His medical record at the hospital indicates that he had attended mental treatment at various times and passed away on Monday at the hospital.
Tadelech Bekele, resident of Tercha town and the victim’s elder sister, said Yenesew had served as a teacher in Silte Zone for some time after graduating from Hawassa Teachers College. Due to his mental problem, he quit his job and returned to Tercha town, where he attended medical care at the hospital.
Following improvement in his health condition, he began working as a teacher in Tercha Vocational and Technical School. But after seven months of service, he stopped his work as his health condition began to deteriorate, she said.
“My brother always asked me to give him money for Khat (narcotic plant), cigarette and drinks. After drinking, he always disturbs residents of the area including me and may families. In 2011, I informed to police my brother to be detained. After that he disappeared from the area for two years,” she said.
“He returned to Tercha early September this year. Beginning from late October, his health continued to deteriorate and he began disturbing my family. He lit himself on fire last week as I was preparing to apply to police for his detention,” she said.
She further expressed her anger over the wrong information disseminated by VOA Amharic service and ESAT about the death of her brother, which according to her utilized him for their hidden political agenda.
According to Tadelech, her brother was buried in accordance with Christian tradition in the presence of his families and friends. The report by VOA and ESAT about his burial ceremony was baseless and it is a shame for these media to mislead the public, she said.
Representative of Dawro Zone Police Commander, Deputy Commander Bako Tina, on his part said that Yenesew is known to have mental illness.
He confirmed being contacted by the victim’s sister for Yenesew’s detention three years ago. He denied earlier media reports surrounding the circumstances of Yenesew’s death and his burial ceremony.
According to Bako, his body was buried in Kale Hiwot Church in the presence of his families and friends.
Chief Administrator of Dawro Zone, Israel Atara, on his part said the report by VOA and ESAT about Yenesew’s death is unfair and called it total fabrications.
Yenesew had no participation in the local community’s request to shift the zonal town from Tercha to Waka, he said.
“The false propaganda being disseminated to incite violence and terror in Ethiopia by these groups, labeled as terrorist organizations, will have no place among Ethiopians,” said the chief administrator.
The administrator and family of the victim urged overseas media, especially ESAT and VOA, to restrain from inciting violence in Ethiopia by propagating unfounded and wrong information.
Their attempt to link Yenesew’s death with Tunisia’s Mohamed Bouazizi clearly indicates their feeling of hopelessness. Ethiopia has already passed the kind of civil war which recently occurred in most Arab countries some 20 years ago.
The fast economic growth Ethiopia is registering amid the current global economic downturn, testifies the government’s commitment for development.
November 17th, 2011 at 11:14 pm (#)
As fellow Ethiopians we should ALL FOLLOW this young man act and start the revolution to end this REGIME of Melez LEGESSE ZENAW. FREEDOM do not come cheap we have to start revolting and take our destiny in our hand by killing the regime with all means necessary. This includes Violence and Guns. We have to fight to day otherwiese we shall be ruled forever by the man and his FAMILY. TALK IS CHEAP but ACTIONS SPEAKS. DOWN TO ZEANWI AND FACISIST ETHIOPIAN REGIME and long live the peoples upraising. FREEDOM NO TO EPRDF AND FASISSM. LET US ALL START BE DEMONSTRATING IFRONT OF ETHIOPIAN EBASSYS IN THE WEST NEWYORK-LONDON-STOCKHOLM -ROOM ETC. LET US UNITE AND MEET UP IN WEB FACEBOOK-TWITTER AND LET US STAT THIS MOVEMENT AND ORGANISE OURSELFS TO END THIS MAN.
November 18th, 2011 at 10:49 am (#)
Bete:
what a stupid comment,what were you trying to say,are you suggesting the news is not well founded?ofcourse,the western media was coveringup your master’s(Meles)crime for long time,this time they couldn’t.some times they have to admit the obvious reality.thier credablity is endangered already.weather you like it or not,we can not putup with your stupid minority clan aparthide any longer.we will fight you and your sponcers upto the last person.it is a matter of time.we will erradicat cancer woyane from that land once and for all.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:26 pm (#)
I am sure the so called ‘opposition’ organization, G7, is not going to profit ( as it has done in the past) out of the sad occurence and use it for its’ own self serving motive,for the never ending fund raising purpose.
Genuine children of our nation emulate and use the example of Yenesew as an additional fuel to intensify the struggle.
November 18th, 2011 at 6:48 pm (#)
I was disappointed by a Woyanephile’s attempt to dismiss Yenesew’s heroic gesture as an act resulting from mental illness (see the long message above). I am writing to state the fact that psychiatric illness is neither a necessary or sufficient cause of suicide.
On the other hand, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), precipitated by draconian socio-political order is increasingly recognized as a sufficient cause of self-destructive behavior ,,, and the case of Yenesew fits. It was also true in the Tunisian case. Woyane … the writing is on the wall … beware
November 19th, 2011 at 1:38 am (#)
Dear genuine-minded and mentally liberated Ethiopians,
The response of Meles’s barbaric and brutal regime on the tragic sacrifices of this heroic young man- via its Media (WIC)-is nothing other than pure hullabaloo that is conducive to the ears of his regime’s inhumane cadres who learnt to enjoy the agonising cries of those who relentlessly beg for justice yet who are still left to languish in prison without it-and those regional, Zone and Federal level cadres who mock the cries of tens of millions of children and elderly who don’t have single proper meal a day whilst they boast in an empty field about their economic success-while kids are crying fir single meal a day!! Shame on these shameless dictators who torture and brutalise voiceless and helpless!
Africa’s most disgusting conspirators against humanity- simply distort the story of this young man’s ultimate sacrifices with honey lubricated poison to deceive global community that is currently out of their touch!
Making such ultimate sacrifices of own life for the best of others-isn’t an easy matter, as it has been undermined whilst being discussed by those mindless morons (who are so called Zone/regional wind pipes who don’t posses their own lungs but breath with Meles’s)-who are nothing other than inhuman wild animals- who devour their own likes -to the extent that relegates them to the level of less than even wild animals those who protect their likes!! His sacrifices is an act of ultimate bravery that remains reverberating in the psyches of the entire Ethiopian nations and will be remembered from generation to generation to come! They can’t do anything here!
Whatever the tactics Meles’s regime adopts to disguise its brutality, whatever the strategy they deploy to hoodwink all Ethiopians and international community, whatever hullabaloo they air using their own media on that no one has got control over; their demise is inevitable.
If Meles and his henchmen think that they can continue brutalising the citizens’ all-round lives, they don’t need to forget for a second that their fate remain similar with that of Gadafi’s and others whose ends proved that the brutalisers don’t learn from their mistakes until the history itself teaches them appropriate lessons. That is why Gadafi and his children being dragged from the sewage tubes Saddam Hussein was puled out of Squirrels cage… and many others ended disastrously!! Does Meles and his henchmen envisage different end from the above unless they listen to the cries of the majority?
If they attempt to convince themselves that they are comfortable and no change will happen in Ethiopian that satisfies the interests of the majority; their dream remains just nightmare. The reality becomes evident when the history proves that they will follow on the path of their international as well as regional dictatorial counterparts who mercilessly slaughtered their own peoples and finally dragged on the streets of their respective countries without enjoying the asset they accumulated at the expenses of powerless majority.
The blood of this young man won’t to be in vain!! All Ethiopians shall be victorious whether the killer Meles’s regime swallows it or attempts to regurgitate until he is hunted down and dragged out of the sewage systems like rats!
The cover up and the lubrication of history don’t save Meles and his henchmen when the right times comes and the revolution matures to reach to irreversible stage that is almost there!! Their desperate attempt to cover up the reality rather becomes counter productive! If they brave and allow international independent media, that will be the time they say that what they are saying is right or wrong.
Ethiopians must come together and be far sighted to effect the change that the country dearly needs!!The Change of mentality among all nations people’s to bring about the essential change the peoples of the country crave is paramount!!
Justice, Liberty, Democracy and Freedom to all peoples of Ethiopia!!
Kambata Xoola
Sidama Diaspora
November 19th, 2011 at 3:19 pm (#)
Dear Editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism:
I am interested to read your article and wondered how you match these two stories about the same event.
It would be a great service to humanity, your integrity and the image of Ethiopia and Britain, two allies whose relationship is being tarnished by such GREAT Discrepancy in reporting and journalism. The day is coming when two great friendly nations are going to challenge their respective journalists todo their job, that is reporting accurately,
Who is the terrorist now? I have worked with the BBC Focus in Africa program and had a great respect for the BBC and British Journalism. Reading these two reports, I am beginning to doubt what happened to the Bastion of Professional Journalism?
I look forward to your dispassionate , rational, intelligent balanced reporting.
This two highly discrepant reporting need to see the day of light of Public Scrutiny and the respective Board of Governance evaluation.
After all, Democracy and Good Governance is about transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to stake holders. I am one of your avid consumers of your reports and demand a response as early as possible.
Thanking you for your attention and alternative perspective, I remain;
Yours sincerely
Belai Habte-Jesus, MD, MPH
http://www.GlobalBelaiJesus.com
Families, local community confirm Yenesew to have mental illness
Addis Ababa, November 17 (WIC) – Medical record, his families and local communities confirmed Yenesew Gebre, who burned himself to death in Tercha town in Dawro Zone, to have mental illness.
Sources told WIC that his death has no relation with maladministration and injustice as some media propagate; especially VOA Amharic program and ESAT.
His families, General Manager of Tercha Hospital, Dawro Zone Police Commander and Chief Administrator of the Zone confirmed the information being disseminated by some overseas media about Yenesew’s death as fake and groundless.
General Manager of Tercha Hospital, Mebratu Masebo, said that Yenesew had severe mental illness and he had been attending various treatments at the hospital when he was alive.
His medical record at the hospital indicates that he had attended mental treatment at various times and passed away on Monday at the hospital.
Tadelech Bekele, resident of Tercha town and the victim’s elder sister, said Yenesew had served as a teacher in Silte Zone for some time after graduating from Hawassa Teachers College. Due to his mental problem, he quit his job and returned to Tercha town, where he attended medical care at the hospital.
Following improvement in his health condition, he began working as a teacher in Tercha Vocational and Technical School. But after seven months of service, he stopped his work as his health condition began to deteriorate, she said.
“My brother always asked me to give him money for Khat (narcotic plant), cigarette and drinks. After drinking, he always disturbs residents of the area including me and may families. In 2001 E.C, I informed to police my brother to be detained. After that he disappeared from the area for two years,” she said.
“He returned to Tercha early September this year. Beginning from late October, his health continued to deteriorate and he began disturbing my family. He lit himself on fire last week as I was preparing to apply to police for his detention,” she said.
She further expressed her anger over the wrong information disseminated by VOA Amharic service and ESAT about the death of her brother, which according to her utilized him for their hidden political agenda.
According to Tadelech, her brother was buried in accordance with Christian tradition in the presence of his families and friends. The report by VOA and ESAT about his burial ceremony was baseless and it is a shame for these media to mislead the public, she said.
Representative of Dawro Zone Police Commander, Deputy Commander Bako Tina, on his part said that Yenesew is known to have mental illness.
He confirmed being contacted by the victim’s sister for Yenesew’s detention three years ago. He denied earlier media reports surrounding the circumstances of Yenesew’s death and his burial ceremony.
According to Bako, his body was buried in Kale Hiwot Church in the presence of his families and friends.
Chief Administrator of Dawro Zone, Israel Atara, on his part said the report by VOA and ESAT about Yenesew’s death is unfair and called it total fabrications.
Yenesew had no participation in the local community’s request to shift the zonal town from Tercha to Waka, he said.
“The false propaganda being disseminated to incite violence and terror in Ethiopia by these groups, labeled as terrorist organizations, will have no place among Ethiopians,” said the chief administrator.
The administrator and family of the victim urged overseas media, especially ESAT and VOA, to restrain from inciting violence in Ethiopia by propagating unfounded and wrong information.
Their attempt to link Yenesew’s death with Tunisia’s Mohamed Bouazizi clearly indicates their feeling of hopelessness. Ethiopia has already passed the kind of civil war which recently occurred in most Arab countries some 20 years ago.
The fast economic growth Ethiopia is registering amid the current global economic downturn, testifies the government’s commitment for development.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:47 pm (#)
i do believe that the government in power is doing the right thing somehow.but i also hate the people who spread this kind of unethical lies about a person who is illitrate and doesn’t have any clue about how ethiopia is going on right know.You are the people who make it hard for the government to leave the power.You definatelly know who i am talking about. like vampaire thirst blooed, you guys want power, with out changing your doma mind.life is not your way or no way. so think twice and seek the change in the right way.