In defence of the truth and objectivity: the case of Eskinder, Lidetu and Seye

What provokes me however to write this article is Ato Eskender’s  article entitled ‘Meles, Lidetu and Election 2010’  & its relevance as a litmus test for objectivity in reporting the truth. It also serves as a quick reminder of the adverse role played by the media in the run-up to Kinijit debacle.

No question, as much as it did a commendable job to rally the public behind, the then media had also played a critical role in fermenting differences within Kinijit leadership, stirring controversy, setting one leader against the other, setting unrealistic expectation and dictating the course of action that gradually but eventually led to a humiliating debacle of Kinijit.

Put simply the mercy killing of the then Kinijit was exacerbated by the unethical, unprofessional and irresponsible acts of those who were supposed to care about Kinijit. With the beauty of hindsight, it begs the question, have we learnt anything or do some editors still think that running the ultra, wild, unfounded and the below-standard rumour-mill is freedom of expression?

As they say, what happened next is history. Kinijit crumbled untimely in its infancy before it got the chance to learn to walk, the journalists decimated and the likes of Ato Eskender allegedly had to write petition to the Prime Minster Melese Zenawi asking for pardon to be released. How come that the self-righteous, supposedly all knowing and all foreseeing journalists fail to see that humiliation was coming?

Don’t get me wrong as I am well aware of the price that the likes of Ato Eskender paid. My question is for what? Was it for freedom of expression, choice and democracy?  Was it in pursuit of reporting the truth or the right to run a malicious campaign against those who do not accept their order? The journalist ethics states:

Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.

Are they really honest? Or Journalists are mortal, like the rest of us, who are driven by alter ego, anger, malice with small-minded vindictiveness?
I am aware that Ato Eskender is controversial as he more often prefers to dictate than inform. And at times his unprofessional, unfounded, intimidating and malicious reporting towards some of the Kinijit leadership had contributed  to what some rightly call the mercy killing of the then Kinijit.

Once again, judging him by the recent five pieces of election-related articles on Ethiomedia, I can see Ato Eskender is no more blissfully naïve. He has come a long way to the centre to adopt some pragmatic view of the world and be cautious. That is a progress.

Nevertheless, I still feel sad when I see Ato Eskender finding it difficult to come out of his darker shadow of making rumour and getting motivated with malice and vindictiveness. We all know Ato Eskinder and Ato Lidetu cannot see eye to eye from AAPO days. Since then, Ato Lidetu has chartered his political career to reach the top utill he was pulled down by the likes of Ato Eskender.  Some may not mind that much if Ato Eskender makes a life out of stocking Lidetu. But is it right to exploit our emotion for some personal vendetta?

We all have weaknesses and may be malice is a blindspot for Ato Eskinder. I do not want to dwell in abstract, below are my evidence in support of my contention.

Ato Eskender wrote on Ethiomedia, Addis Voice and Nazreth:  ‘Lidetu, who maliciously betrayed the opposition in 2005 and is now a rather unconvincing champion of a “third way”………in light of the token competition he faces from the EPRDF (which wants him to win)…….’

I guess, Ato Eskender either thinks of himself as too clever or thinks that his readers are idiots.  He knows what most kinijit leaders are now saying; boycotting Parliament was a wrong decision. Many of the Kinijit leaders also admit that it was wrong to rush into merging the four constituent parties of Kinijit too soon. As it is the case with EDP, AEUP and EDL are back into the folds of their former parties including using their old names before the merge. Above all, it was a fact that Ato Lidetu was suspended from Kinijit under the media pressure and didn’t leave Kinijit as it was falsely reported.

What made me cringe is Ato Eskinder provided no evidence so far to his readers who might ask him how Ato Lidetu betrayed the opposition!

Moreover we know that, Ato Eskinder and other editors were a party to the rumour-mill by publishing that Ato Lidetu had met “Abboy Sebhat” and was given 4×4 Land Cruiser by Al-amoudi without telling us the colour and make of the car.  Ato Eskinder was among the editors who intimidated Kinijit leaders not to join Parliament. We still remember the story published of the people carrying machete to kill the Kinijit leaders who might have voted to join the Parliament.

Can we create a better society without accountability or advance freedom of expression? Shouldn’t the public deserve some honesty by telling us that the editors too got it wrong?  Or our journalists are higher beings, if you like a sort of omnipotence, who make no wrongs at all and cannot be made accountable for their actions?  It is high time for us to start critically debating the media contribution for the demise of kinijit which is beyond doubt.

Ato Eskinder and et al run the show in most exploitative and malicious way to drive Kinijit to its demise. And yet, there is no evidence to suggest that the same malicious rumours that were propagated in furtherance of personal vendetta are stopped from being recycled as truth.  Wouldn’t it be right and about time that if Ato Eskender stops treating his audience as idiots?

Regrettably, on the above article, Ato Eskinder further goes on to say  ‘But an unexpected issue has loomed that seriously jeopardizes his [Lidetu’s]  chances……  Many of his devoutly Orthodox Christian constituents (who  constitute almost 100 percent) are incensed by rumours of his conversion to Protestantism (Pente),……Lidetu has denied the  allegation, but considerable damage has already been done by the  rumours, and reversing his fortunes seems to be an uphill battle for  him and his EPRDF allies.’

You see, it seems to me that Ato Eskender is back to his familiar territory. May be it is very hard for old habits to die too soon. The crucial question is not whether devoted Orthodox Christians are incensed by the rumours but who started it and who is happy to run the show once gain?

Today no Kinijit leader says in public they have said Ato Lidetu is a ‘Woyane’ or ever uttered such a word at any time. As Dr Berhanu was reported saying: it is you, the public who said Ato Lidetu is a ‘Woyane’. Now the blame is dumped back to the public and implied the buck ought to have stopped on the public. In the same way, Ato Eskender tries to attribute this religious bigotry fabricated by some ill-meaning politicians to unnamed innocent Orthodox Christians!

Let us assume Ato Eskinder understands democracy and the right of individuals to choose their faith. Now a person who honours himself to have paid a price for freedom of choice goes on to disseminate the rumour by quoting the innocent public of spreading the rumour and drawing a fallacious conclusion.

If Lidetu is Protestant Christian, which he isn’t, since when being ‘Pente’ becomes heretical in Ethiopia?

Ato Eskender, as a stalker of Ato Lidetu and a party to most of the previous wild and unfounded rumours about Ato Lidetu, is more than capable of knowing that, the rumour is not true and has nothing to do with the innocent Orthodox Christians but the work of ill-motivated politicians.

Even if the rumour is true, how come that he claims to be blissfully ignorant that being Protestant Christian is not heretical! For that matter, is he aware that many who are paying heavy price for democratisation of Ethiopia, including, Judge Burtukan Mideksa are from Protestant Denomination (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birtukan_Mideksa)? Dr. Negasso Gidada and many others whom he admires and praises also come from Protestant denominations. So is Ato Eskender implying that the largely Orthodox Christian and Muslim of the Addis Ababa residents turn their back on Judge Birtukan Mideksa  or Dr Negasso Gidada simply because they are ‘Pentes’? Or is he arguing that it is okey when this gross unfairness is applied to Ato Lidetu but not to the likes of Judge Birtukan Mideksa and Dr Negaso Gidada?  Is this wild and unsophisticated hypocrisy or  advancing freedom of expression where we all have a vested interest?

What Ato Eskinder misses is that Christians of all denominations, Muslims, Jews, Pagans, atheists, etc should have equal rights to participate in political affairs of the nation. This kind of subtitle bigotry only reveals the malicious character of Ato Eskender and has nothing to do with freedom of speech or objective reporting.

As if the advancement of politics based on ethnicity by some were not enough to damage the long term interest of the Ethiopian people, being at ease in using even religious difference in furtherance of a personal vendetta when everything else runs out is a desperate and probably the most dangerous stunt.

Put simply, this is my question to my learned Ethiopian fellow Ato Eskender Nega: I have always believed, for those of us who believe politics can and should be beyond religious affiliation, ethnic origin, ..etc, that the next election is never about ‘Pentecostalism’ and ‘Orthodox Christinity’ in the eyes of the Ethiopian  Electorate including at Lalibella. I can not wait to be enlightened on the matter by Ato Eskender.

For contrast, let us have a close look at what he wrote about Ato Seye, ex- EPRDF and Derge/WEP officials.

In his article entitled ‘The past of Seye Abraha et al in perspective’  on  Ethiomedia, Ato Eskender argues: ‘No other political personalities but Seye Abraha et al bring into opposition politics this kind of  dynamism, blurring the argument that their past undercuts their  present importance to the democratic cause as has been suggested…Some speakers mistook Negasso and Gebru perhaps for  Meles Zenawi and Bereket Simon and tormented them like they were  convicted criminals,”  and he goes on to say that, ‘Of crucial point here is that none amongst Seye Abraha et al is being  asked to account for substantiated and specific violation of human  rights, as was the case, for example, with Kelbessa Negawo from the  Derg era”

He then concludes his argument  in defence of the ex-EPRDF officials by saying “The quest for such a political setting in Ethiopia  has to date not closed its door on ex-WPE (Derg) officials and members  untainted by personal violation of human rights; it can not fairly do so against ex-officials and members of the EPRDF held to the same  standard.’

I can not agree more with Ato Eskender that Ato Seye et al should not be treated as if they were convicted criminals as it is the case for Ato Kelbessa Negawo of the Derge regime. Fairness also demands, if we are serious about objectivity, the truth and the Rule of Law, we have to treat everyone equally and that should include treating the likes of  Ato Lidetu and even the current serving officials to say the least.

Where is the objectivity and the persuasive logic in the argument that Ato Lidetu who has never held office and done nothing to disagree to be subjected to intensive defamation should be denied the same right?
This is where the troubled mind of our journalists like Ato Eskinder Nega begins to bother me.

Was Ato Lidetu given a fair chance as desperately pleaded to be given to Ato Seye et al by Ato Eskender?

The answer to me is a BIG no. Where as Ato Eskender rightly begs us to treat Ato Seye et al fairly as possible as they are not convicted criminals, like Ato Kelbessa Negawo, he himself seems not bothered to disseminate the usual hearsays on Ato Lidetu (please refer to the  ‘Pente’ allegation and the ‘malicious betrayal’ of the opposition in  2005 by Ato Lidetu from the above quotes).

What makes Ato Eskender’s perpetuation of the hearsays on Ato Lidetu indefensible and a mockery is that, alebiet too late, prominent individuals who were/ are in a position to know Ato Lidetu best are giving their testimony in public against those hearsays!

Professor Mesfin Woldemariam recently said: ‘ No body has brought an iota of evidence so far that Ato Lidetu is a ‘Woyane’.  Dr Birhanu Nega too has said: “he never said Ato Lidetu is a ‘woyane’.’ Nevertheless, the icing on the cake was when Dr Yacob unambiguously and in no uncertain terms stated: ‘Lidetu is not a ‘Woyane”. Rather as one of the opposition leaders at the time, I was an eye witness when Ato Lidetu was thrown into Shewa Robit prison and later suffered  at the hands of the regime when he appeared at court’.

Currently Ato Eskender has no newspaper he owns and directly controls as before to give fuel to the rumour. If he had, the evidence strongly suggests that he might have no qualm in continuing to champion the spreading of the maliciously fabricated baseless rumours.

Conclusion:

Before I rest my case, I am not in any way suggesting that those who argue the actions taken and omissions by Ato Lidetu & EDP has potentially benefited the regime are wrong. Even though I totally  disagree with this contention, I accept that it could be one plausible  line of argument. What I am not prepared to accept is that the unsubstantiated and the totally fabricated and spinned argument that Ato Lidetu is a ‘Woyane’.

I believe in freedom of speech. But freedom of speech also comes with accountability. Ato Eskender was the main back-seat driver of the conflict within Kinijit. He pitted one leader over the other in driving this organisation to its demise. He has not yet come out either to apologise or substantiate the rumours he has been publishing.

Charity begins at home and it is high time that Ato Eskender needs to come clean. Among other things, Kinijit was forced to go through the map laid out by Ato Eskender and others. It suspended Ato Lidetu, boycotted joining Parliament and abandoned taking over Addis Ababa administration. Now it rests in peace. Who is to blame, Ato Lidetu or Ato Eskender?

Those who are privileged to be journalists and editors have a duty to be truthful to themselves and to the others. Yes one can fool some people for sometime. But to think that one is capable of fooling all, all the time, can not just come from a sane and sober mind. Treating others like idiots in pursuit of personal vendetta is unethical.

Most importantly let us all take the virtues of truth, fairness, objectivity and the Rule of Law seriously. Let us all stand in defence of the truth and objectivity. Let us all stop to take fellow Ethiopians  as convicted criminals before they even appear in a dock in a free and  independent court!

What actually happened was mixing stupidity with patriotism. I strongly believe that the order of just do it blindly as I say, by journalists like Ato Eskender, is one of the many and various causes of the demise of Kinijit.

Kinijit was forced to follow the scripts written by some Editors and Journalists, like Ato Eskender Nega, not to join Parliament, to take over the administration of Addis Ababa, unwisely pitted one leader against the other to the detriment of the struggle, etc. We all know what happened as a result. Kinijit faced its pre-mature death. That is what happens when people confuse stupidity with patriotism. Now it is high time that Ato Eskinder et al, say sorry to say the least.

Most importantly we should emphatically say no when the struggle is being driven over the cliff for exactly the same reason/s yet again by those who profoundly contributed to the mercy killing of Kinijit. We all should learn from our past mistakes. Of course it is right not to dwell too much on past mistakes but to ignore the same mistakes being perpetuated which led us to mutual annihilation is too much which the struggle can and should not afford at all!!

Forget about taking unsubstantiated wild allegations and hearsays as truth which at times are disseminated deliberately, let us vow to uphold the legal maxim that a person is innocent until he is proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a free and independent criminal court.  Shall we?

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Tedy
Tedy
14 years ago

I appreciate the author. Most importantly, the damage caused to Ato Lidetu is very sad indeed. It is shame not only to the so called journalists such as Eskindir et al., but also to the blind folk who failed to understand the truth. The Dergists and the the killers who made our country landlocked are receiving a hero-welcome by the diaspora. Shame to you all!! Even Jesus was mistreated by his own folk…but the truth prevails. Similarly, Lidetu proved who he was… is ….and will be!! He is my real hero. I am so proud that in such a dark time…my country has got such a young, daynamic, outspoken and above all visionary leader. Lidetu is Ethiopian and he will remain Ethiopian. He doesnt have to be from Shoa to be crowned. We have enough of them for the bad of our country. The blind folk did not condemn the devisisive act of Hailu Shaul (the Dergist) and the old gang (Mesfin Woldemeriam) for the very fact they are fully or partly from Shoa. Hell to you all!! You are all bandas!! Before you give me a name…tell you what…I am not from Wollo…just I am Ethiopian who is so proud and supportive of Lidetu from the very day he came to the political picture.

God bless Ethiopia and her tru sons!!

Roha
Roha
14 years ago

Thank you very much
There are live witneses
The public should know who were really behind the split andfailer of Kinijit?
Eskinder Nega and Andargachew Tsge are on the top list to guide Kinijit to death.

Shemsu
Shemsu
14 years ago

I have read Eskender’s articles on Ethiomedia. Eskender Nega is probably one of the few individuals who brought Kinijit to its demise. Some people might find it absurd but that is a fact. Honestly speaking he is on top of the likes of Engeener Gizachew and Dr Birhanu if we need to rank them based on responsibility for the downfall of the true Kinijit (Forget Chamiso’s Kinijit, it is just fake).

Anberber
Anberber
14 years ago

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice,shame on me.
Mr Eskender you have shown us, during Ethiopian election 2005, the dark side of journalism. We were able to witness, thanks to you, there are also irresponsible and cruel journalists.Thank you for nothing.

Ginbot7
Ginbot7
14 years ago

Eskinder Nega is the true son of Ethiopia who sacrificed himself for Ethiopian peopl So I believe whatever he writes.

Awel (Mercato)
Awel (Mercato)
14 years ago

I share the view of the writer that objectivity is of paramount importance in the field of journalism. Thank you

abay Abebe
abay Abebe
14 years ago

It is a very outstanding response to Ato Eskindir, who was very unfair to Ato LIDETU for a long time.I am 100% agreed with you and we need more writer, who tells the truth like you Yeneneh. good job and keep it up.
God bless Ethiopia!!!

Dan
Dan
14 years ago

I have read the article very well. But there are also other so called journalist who blow away put of proportion Lidetu’s Woyane-ness. I am not saying Lidetu is not Woyane, but the question is where is the evidence? The author or any other true patriot of his/her country should bring forth such article in regards of other money-making so-called journalists faults in the demise of Kinjit. What most of the newspapers concentrated in the 2002 election were in making money? multiplying the number of copies by their profit margin. Poor, poor Ethiopia!!

Dan
Dan
14 years ago

By the way the author quoted wikipedia to support his case about Birtukan’s protestanism, but the website is not a reliable source for quotation. I can even go to the websit and Make Birtukan a Moslem if I want too!!

Taye
Taye
14 years ago

I agree with the author. Religious bigotry should not be tolerated. It is like playing with fire!!

ali
ali
14 years ago

selam ziggtachu betam des ylale beziw ketlu

Alemu
Alemu
14 years ago

Why worry about Eskinder and their likes? They don’t really matter to Ethiopia and its politics. I suggest that my fellow country men concentrate on the upcoming election (how we can help to make it fair), how we can contribute to its economic development, how we can help bring consensus among Ethiopians: in general how to play a positive role.
Do not spend yur energy on battling lost souls> They don’t really matter!!

Segu
Segu
14 years ago

It is an excellent response to the endless sick-journalism of the likes of Eskinder Nega. These people have been fabricating unsubstantiated rumours and very biased and absurd ‘news’ every day to attack Lidetu in the name of Kinijit. The real motive or stake of Eskindir and his likes had not been clear for some of us. This time Eskinder has made no secret of his evil-intention: in the concluding sentence of his latest piece he says he would celebrate if Lidetu is defeated in Lasta by the EPRDF. I am confused! Are these guys (ESkinder, Abrha etc) really trying to help the struggle to establish a better political future for that country?

Ewnet
Ewnet
14 years ago

Dear Yeneneh Woldegebrel! You are great Ethiopian! Thank you for telling Eskinder Nega what role he played to make few power mongers happy. Eskinder thought that no one will have the courage to tell what he did after the CUD formation. He is the killer the pillar of kinjit. As to Eskinder , Lidetu has died long a go but, thanks to GOD and wise Ethiopians, he is alive and get this chance to make history again. I know how many true Ethiopians are disappointed and abandoned the struggle because of selfish and jealous individuals like Eskndir Nega. People who can’t do something good and to be loved by the people, the easiest thing that they can is to defame true Ethiopians because it is easy to lie for individuals like Ekinder who created with out humanity. Let GOD help Lidetu and the truth he stands for and punish these jealous people.
The success of Lidetu will give them a headache and that is their punishment.
True Ethiopians cried for years because of Eskinder and other few crude creatures’ false propaganda. I believe that the tear of innocents will reach to GOD.
Dear Yeneneh please keep on writing the truth and let them know that there are Ethiopians like you who can challenge them when they fabricate such base less rumors.
God Bless You!!!!!!!!!
With best Regards

W. Mesfin
W. Mesfin
14 years ago

I appreciate the author’s concern that discredits an extra ordinary black mailing the name of innocents in the indoctrinated politics of Ethiopia. To be honest, in the overall unmaking of Kinijit, pointing at Lidetu is unfair as far as the leadership of all parties in the coalition were equally had the same problem for the reason that they were intentionally driven with unsettled internal conflict since the time of Kinijit’s merger. I do insight that the content of Eskender’s article has been focusing on personal attack and bound with controversy, divisive and irrelevant critique and not surprising as he always make a name for himself along the wally behave. Writing such a smart false tales that has targetted on a deliberate character assasination is morally unjust. Let God show us the wisdom. Truth will prevail.

Taye
Taye
14 years ago

Segu,
Lidetu’s and Eskinder’s differences start on Amharan Nationalism. Eskinder as staunch supporter of AAPO thinks that Lidetu and Eng. Hailu Betrayed the Amhar people by going from Amhara nationalism to Ethiopian Nationalism. He, as last disparate attempt, joined Kegazmach Nekatebeb’s and others to keep the Amhar organisation alive, which he failed as vice president of All Amhara People Organisation. For Eskinder Lidetu is a traitor of his ethnic group and hatrade towards Lidetu has nothing to do with Kinijit. Eskinder was not a supporter of Kinijit until the last minute and he never believed in multi-ethnic Ethiopia. But he used Kinijit to settle old differences. Now he want to use Orthodox Christians, to promote religious bigotry.

From Minnesota
From Minnesota
14 years ago

Ato Eskinder is am advocate, an advocate for the opposition party that he supports. Not a journalist, and he should not be trusted as such.
The only sad thing about Ato Eskinder he doesn’t think his readers are smart enough to figure out the truth on their own. Not only that he writes fabricated story such as the one he recently writes, he also create opinion for his readers as if they couldn’t do it themselves.
Ato Eskinder doesn’t have an independent mind to tell the truth.
With all do respect he is DISINGENUOUS.

Chombe
Chombe
14 years ago

I think Eskindire did not say that he wrote his articles as a neutral writer. In fact I would be surprised if he said so. He cannot be neutral and he does not have to be neutral to write. He has his own stake in this and the last elections and when he writes he clearly shows his side. I do not see any thing wrong with that. His writing is professional, well-reasoned and articulate.
Chombe

Tito
Tito
14 years ago

I read At eskinders’s article on Ethiomedia..It is an opinion piece(op-ed) not new reporting. He gathers infromation through different sources including the rumor-mill that is swirling around Adiss political community. By the same token the author of this article-Yeneneh Woldegebriel-is doing the same just in the other sid of the fence..defending Lidetu by appearing as self righteous defender of the elusive TRUTH–whatever that means..like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. It is so ironic both the writer and Eskinder are like that adage ..the pot calling the kettle black.In the mean time Woyane designed and directed ritual the so called farce “election” ..the loyal and legal “opposition” leaders has proven beyond any reasonable doubt by the vast majority of Ethiopians irrelevant to bring about any meaningful let alone radical change to the status quo. All this broohlala..self righteous indignation ..KEZENJERO KONOJO–kind of selection is a tragedy and in a country with a long tradition of selfless and resolute heroes/sheroes.
Eskinder is now joining his likes in the form of G7 and affiliates as an alternative group waiting in the wings after the election..they are re-grouping here in diaspora as the next ruling elities..LOL..the saga will continue unless genuine sons and daughters marshal the leadership which radically change the body politics.

manyamral
manyamral
14 years ago

thanks etiofact for your article in defendig the fact.
a great job

Fikru Ayele Belay
Fikru Ayele Belay
14 years ago

የኔነህ ይህንን ጽሑፍህን እንደ ጥሩ ልብ-ወለድ ድርሰት እጅግ በጣም ልቤ ተሰቅሎ ነው አንብቤ የጨረስኩት። ከሁሉ ያስደሰተኝ “ከጋዜጠኛው እስክንድር” በተሻለ ደረጃ ሚዛኑን የጠበቀ ጽሑፍ ባዘጋጀትህ ነው። ለእስክንድር ብቻ ሳይሆን በየዌብ ሳይቱ “አጉራህ ጠናኝ” ብለው ለሚወራጩ ህሊና ቢሶች ሁሉ ጥሩ ትምህርት እንደሚሰጥ ጥርጥር የለውም። Yeneneh, make yourself ready for fresh challenges!
ፍቅሩ አየለ በላይ፤ ከሸበል በረንታ

Mergu Damtew
Mergu Damtew
14 years ago

በቅንጅት ውስጥ የነበረው ሴራ የተለመደው የሸዋ ሴራ ነበር። በልጅ ኢያሱ ላይ ሸዌ ያውጠነጠነው ሴራ ከአንድ መቶ ዓመት በኋላ በወሎየው ልደቱ ላይ ተፈጸመ። በነገራችን ላይ ከ60ዎቹ የቅንጅት የላዕላይ ምክር ቤት አባላት 45ቱ የሸዋ ተወላጆች መሆናቸውና አረጋግጫለሁ። ዝርዝሩን በቅርቡ አቀርባለሁ።

Mulat Aben
Mulat Aben
14 years ago

How come all these comments are pro the author? Appears so strange. Can’t believe every one is in favor of the article, and nobody wrote against it. Is there a place for a differing view??!

Mulat Aben
Mulat Aben
14 years ago

So you never publish all responses. I just asked you why your site only entertains one-sided views. It was a sincere question. why do we read responses that are solely in support of the author of the above article? That is just a valid question and you don’t even publish a concern. Is this ethiofact?

­germa
­germa
14 years ago

Mulat, be the first then to write opposing views.

Gesgese
Gesgese
14 years ago

What for was the price paid by Eskender?

I never thought it could be to advance his private vendetta on individuals. Well,thank you Yeneneh from persuading me to seeing things from different perspective.

Zemzem
Zemzem
14 years ago

Well, what is the point of going out of ones mind to advance Medrek and Seye Abraha et al.

What is there any way to defend Medrek and Seye et al?

Do we know what we are doing?

Have we learned ever from our pase mistakes?

Medrek is in effect EPRDF 2 with ethnic infested with ethnic lords.

So Meles leads EPRDF 1 and Seye leads EPRDF 2.

The difference is that those who bitterly oppose EPRDF 1 vis-a-vis Meles are staunchly supporting EPRDF 2 vis-a-vis Seye.

What is going on?

Tazabi
Tazabi
14 years ago

Why is the writer choosing to attack Eskender, the re-knowened journalist, at this particular time? What is his motive?

I bet the writer has not contributed a thing to the struggle leave alone sacrifice himself like Eskender.

Letekemach semaye kerbu new indemibalew!

Ewnteu
Ewnteu
14 years ago

No body should be above accountability. Why should Eskender be above criticism?

Particularly those who want others to account and forensically examine others as a result should at least stop complaining when their own medicine is prescribed to them.What a hypocrisy.

However,it does not mean that i agree with the writer in every thing. The writer may have his own motive to write the article.

Still i very much enjoed the article. It was great and persuasive.

truth
truth
14 years ago

this is amazing to hear again from Lidtu’s group accusing everybody opposing his idea.shame on u who don’t understand by yourself even the 3rd alternative rather blaming, crying without humbleness and love but full of pride and greediness.Lidtu has one party with 3 gangs….we all know how they are…Musha…ohh my God …Abduraman….can thy lead us….may be………long live freedom of speech……

Kachisaw
Kachisaw
14 years ago

Let the people judge what is factual VS. fiction. True democracy leaves the judgment to the court of public opinion. Arresting, banning and stopping journalists from writing in the name of resposnibility and accountability is an excuse dictators always use to put opposition in check. We have seen EPRDF dictate using these excuses time and again. The bribed agents of dictators work hard to fool us using words like fairness accoutability. What a shame to trust their deceptive tricks ?

Kibebew
Kibebew
14 years ago

We know Eskinder Nega when he was publishing the threesome “Minilik”, “Satenaw” and “Asqual” early this decade. He was such a disgrace to democracy and creating forward thinking society to say the least!

Ndew
Ndew
14 years ago

THANKS YENENEH
WE KONW ESKENDER ARTICLE ALWAS ATTACK ATO LEDETU AYALEW WITH NO RESION! ESKENDER WAS ONE OF JORNALIST WHO WARE PUBLISH INCORECT HISTOREY ABOUT ATO LEDETU SONCE 1995 ELECTION! WHATEVER HE CREAT INCORRECT ACUSATION ON ATO LEDETU I DONT THINK ETHIOPIAN PPL WILL GIVE THERE EAR!! NOW DAS ETHIOPIAN PPL KNOW WHO IS THE RIGHT POLITISHAN FOR ETHIOPIA! THEREFORE PLS ATO ESKENDER BE A GOOD JORNALIST INSTEAD OF REPORTING YOUR DIRTY FALS ACUSATION?? STANT FOR TRUE?

EWNET LEZELALEM YENUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AWASSA
AWASSA
14 years ago

I HAVE SEEN THE ARTICLES WRITTEN BY ESKINDER NEGA. I WAS TERRIBLY ASHAMED OF ESKINDER! HOW POOR AND FUTILE IS HE?
ሰዉ በዘመኑ እዉነትን ችላ እንዳለ ይኖራል እንደ? እስክንድር ነጋ ግን ከእዉነት ጋር የተጣላ ምስክን ሰዉ ይመስለኛል፡፡ በዉሸት እና በአሉባልታ የሰዎችን ስም በማጉደፍ የሚኖር እና ለደሞክራስ ግንባታ እሰት መዎን ስገባዉ እንቅፋት በመዎን ከመስራቱም ባሻገር ከስህተቱ መማርን እንደነዉር የሚያይ ተራ ሰዉ፡፡ ሰዉ የፈለገዉን እምነት የመከተል መብት እንዳለዉ ለመገንዘብ የተቸገረ ትንሽ ሰዉ ማን ነዉ ቢባል የመጀመሪያዉ እስክንድር ነጋ ነዉ፡፡፡፡

sis
sis
14 years ago

Yale Lidetu chinklat yelachihum ende. Think with your mind. You can read the book written by Tamirat Tarekegn about Lidetu’s monopoly struggle. Thanks to Bugna people, we are frre from Lidetu’s mind monopoly.

Gondude
Gondude
14 years ago

Eskinder is a bold proactive fearless citizen who is not ashamed to tell the truth about our country’s affair .weather some people are uncomfortable is an other thing is the sadest thing TPLF that a guy like him is not able to freely express his views.