http://www.ethiopianreview.com/articles/1322
Hailu Shawel's trail of betrayal
Oct 13, 2007
This is one in a series of articles Ethiopian Review will publish in the coming few days to expose the betrayals and gross corruption surrounding Ato Hailu Shawel and his close friends. Up to now, many believed and hoped that Ato Hailu is an innocent victim of the Shaleqa gang. But Shaleqa Yoseph himself said recently that he did not do any thing without being ordered by his boss Hailu Shawel. The most recent actions by Ato Hailu proves the Shaleqa's argument. To get a glimpse of the wrong path Ato Hailu chose to take, read this article (click here - Amharic)
Ato Hailu Shawel has betrayed those of us who had trusted him, and placed our hopes on him to provide an honest, principled, corruption free leadership. We were led to believe that he is a trust worthy, fair minded individual, a consistent, strong, unwavering leader. Little did we know that we were hoping against hope when all the signs were there — his crude betrayal of Prof. Asrat and all the other AAPO leaders. We were indeed fooling ourselves. The way things are unfolding now, it may turn out that he is the father of all corruptions, nepotism and bigotry.
Ato Hailu Shawel’s current betrayal of his supporters and colleagues bring memories of his betrayal of Professor Asrat Woldeyes several years ago. After quitting the All Amhara People’s Organization (AAPO) over a minor disagreement, when Professor Asrat was languishing in jail for six years, Ato Hailu did not visit him even once in jail, and had never participated in any type of activity to help release the professor. He did not even attend Prof. Asrat's funeral service. For six years when Prof. Asrat languished in jail, Ato Hailu was making money and becoming a millionaire, without spending one minute of his time in Ethiopian politics. After Prof. Asrat died, Ato Hailu maneuvered his way back to the AAPO using his money. Once he became chairman of the AAPO, he had systematically pushed out many of the independent thinking leaders of the AAPO, including Ato Wondayehu Kassa, Ato Ali Indris, Col. Getahun Ejigu, and Ato Girma EnquSelassie using the power of his money against these individuals who were left pennyless due to several years of incarceration by Woyanne. Many of these individuals had languished in Woyanne jails along with Prof. Asrat.
As we look deeper into Ato Hailu’s past in trying to understand his current behavior, what we are finding is that his trail of betrayal, as well as his dictatorial behavior, goes way back. We will leave that for the history books. But what is now obvious is that when Ato Hailu told BBC’s Hard Talk two years ago that Ethiopians are double faced, we are now discovering that he was talking about himself.
x`
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Elias Kifle on Hailu Shawel's "thriving business"
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/1646
Hailu Shawel's family business thriving under Woyanne
Dec 18, 2007
Shawel Consulting, Hailu Shawel’s family business based in Addis Ababa, is one of the few thriving companies in Ethiopia that are successfully competing with Sebhat Nega’s EFFORT and Al Amoudi’s Midrock.
ER Research Unit in Addis Ababa has learned that recently, the Woyanne regime’s deputy prime minister, Addisu Legesse, has helped Hailu Shawel’s company, Shawel Consulting Firm, land a lucrative contract in the ‘Amhara Killil’ to upgrade Bahr Dar Airport.
Shawel’s Consulting Firm started to get lucrative government contract particularly since 2006, according to ER Research Unit.
Prior to 2006, the company and Hailu Shawel’s family were on a downward spiral financially, sources told ER Research Unit. Until the Summer of 2006, the Shawel family could not even keep up with the mortgage of their $600,000 house in Edina, Minnesota. Ato Hailu’s close family friend in Los Angeles, Ato Moges Brook, had to pay over $15,000 mortgage from Kinijit’s account that he and Shaleqa Yoseph Yazew control.
Recently, however, the family business is thriving. On top of the airport upgrade contract in the “Amhara Killil,” Hailu Shawel’s firm is currently working on another multimillion dollar construction project to build a large shopping mall. ER Research Unit is working to get more details and photos of this project.
Ato Hailu Shawel and Company have also been promised by Woyanne that they can freely operate in any part of Ethiopia and prepare for the next election as long as they do not use the name Kinijit. Ato Hailu has accepted the offer, but had to find a pretext to withdraw from Kinijit without causing himself and his group a public backlash. Before he departed for the U.S., he held meetings with former AEUP officials and created various committees that are assigned the task of reorganizing AEUP.
Asked by Kinijit officials Bertukan Mideksa and others why a bank account was opened under AEUP and the office rental contract was also renewed under AEUP, Ato Abayneh Berhanu and other colleagues of Hailu Shawel answered that Woyanne would not allow them to operate under Kinijit. When making such a decision, Ato Abayneh did not bother to consult with the Kinijit executive committee.
Currently, Ato Hailu Shawel and Company are busy preparing to participate in the upcoming local elections in April 2008 under the AEUP banner. Several teams have been dispatched to various woredas (districts) through out the country to re-open AEUP offices. Even the exiled Dr Taye Woldesemayat is returning to Ethiopia to help with preparations for the upcoming elections. He told Hailu Shawel’s supporters at the Paltalk’s Diaspora Room on Sunday that he is planning to go to Ethiopia soon.
All this is done by Hailu Shawel and gang while lying to the public that Kinijit is united. What these fools don’t know is that, after they help Woyanne destroy Kinijit, Woyanne will turn on them. Woyannes have promised themselves never again to allow the 2005 type of election where international observers will be present.
All Hailu Shawel’s corruption, business dealings with Addisu Legesse and other Woaynnes, reorganizing of AEUP, the campaign to dismantle Kinijit, etc. are not secret to Wzt. Bertukan and her friends. It is just that they are too timid to expose them. Wzt. Bertukan and crew are too nice to be politicians. Why don’t they open a book store and smile all day? They have turned out to be ragdolls in the face of an all out assault by the AEUP feudalists-Woyanne-EPRP unholy alliance. As far as ER is concerned, they are toast — unless they clean up their act and start fighting back.
Hailu Shawel's family business thriving under Woyanne
Dec 18, 2007
Shawel Consulting, Hailu Shawel’s family business based in Addis Ababa, is one of the few thriving companies in Ethiopia that are successfully competing with Sebhat Nega’s EFFORT and Al Amoudi’s Midrock.
ER Research Unit in Addis Ababa has learned that recently, the Woyanne regime’s deputy prime minister, Addisu Legesse, has helped Hailu Shawel’s company, Shawel Consulting Firm, land a lucrative contract in the ‘Amhara Killil’ to upgrade Bahr Dar Airport.
Shawel’s Consulting Firm started to get lucrative government contract particularly since 2006, according to ER Research Unit.
Prior to 2006, the company and Hailu Shawel’s family were on a downward spiral financially, sources told ER Research Unit. Until the Summer of 2006, the Shawel family could not even keep up with the mortgage of their $600,000 house in Edina, Minnesota. Ato Hailu’s close family friend in Los Angeles, Ato Moges Brook, had to pay over $15,000 mortgage from Kinijit’s account that he and Shaleqa Yoseph Yazew control.
Recently, however, the family business is thriving. On top of the airport upgrade contract in the “Amhara Killil,” Hailu Shawel’s firm is currently working on another multimillion dollar construction project to build a large shopping mall. ER Research Unit is working to get more details and photos of this project.
Ato Hailu Shawel and Company have also been promised by Woyanne that they can freely operate in any part of Ethiopia and prepare for the next election as long as they do not use the name Kinijit. Ato Hailu has accepted the offer, but had to find a pretext to withdraw from Kinijit without causing himself and his group a public backlash. Before he departed for the U.S., he held meetings with former AEUP officials and created various committees that are assigned the task of reorganizing AEUP.
Asked by Kinijit officials Bertukan Mideksa and others why a bank account was opened under AEUP and the office rental contract was also renewed under AEUP, Ato Abayneh Berhanu and other colleagues of Hailu Shawel answered that Woyanne would not allow them to operate under Kinijit. When making such a decision, Ato Abayneh did not bother to consult with the Kinijit executive committee.
Currently, Ato Hailu Shawel and Company are busy preparing to participate in the upcoming local elections in April 2008 under the AEUP banner. Several teams have been dispatched to various woredas (districts) through out the country to re-open AEUP offices. Even the exiled Dr Taye Woldesemayat is returning to Ethiopia to help with preparations for the upcoming elections. He told Hailu Shawel’s supporters at the Paltalk’s Diaspora Room on Sunday that he is planning to go to Ethiopia soon.
All this is done by Hailu Shawel and gang while lying to the public that Kinijit is united. What these fools don’t know is that, after they help Woyanne destroy Kinijit, Woyanne will turn on them. Woyannes have promised themselves never again to allow the 2005 type of election where international observers will be present.
All Hailu Shawel’s corruption, business dealings with Addisu Legesse and other Woaynnes, reorganizing of AEUP, the campaign to dismantle Kinijit, etc. are not secret to Wzt. Bertukan and her friends. It is just that they are too timid to expose them. Wzt. Bertukan and crew are too nice to be politicians. Why don’t they open a book store and smile all day? They have turned out to be ragdolls in the face of an all out assault by the AEUP feudalists-Woyanne-EPRP unholy alliance. As far as ER is concerned, they are toast — unless they clean up their act and start fighting back.
Elias Kilfle on Berhanu Nega and Hailu Shawel
Berhanu Nega is going against the people's desire
Sep 21, 2005
Ethiopian Review Editorial
Sep 21, 2005
A statement has been posted in the name of CUD on Kestedemena Party's web site that contradicts Ato Hailu Shawel's announcement that CUD will not enter parliament. The statement does not bear CUD's official stamp, and we have confirmed that the CUD council did not authorize the statement posted on Kestedemena's web site against its chairman.
The Kestedemena Party chairman, Dr Berhanu Nega, who is the campaign manager for CUD, also held a press conference today (Sep 21) and told reporters that Ato Hailu's statement doesn't represent CUD. Dr Berhanu doesn't have the authority to contradict the chairman of CUD. By coming out against Ato Hailu, not only he is violating party discipline, he is also creating confusion and frustration among the CUD supporters, and the public at large.
Of course, this is not the first time that Dr Berhanu tried to contradict the CUD chairman and assuming the role of CUD leader. Since May 15, he has been trying to silence the chairman who has been championing the cause of the vast majority of Ethiopians for past several years. It is absurd why an election campaign manager is given a free hand to destroy the image of the coalition and its chairman. Dr Berhanu, who has appeard in the opposition camp just a few months before the election, has been the source of confusion and division in the CUD. Once again, Ethiopian Review urges the CUD leadership to take a corrective action as soon as possible in order to preserve its creditability.
The people of Ethiopia are with Ato Hailu Shawel. If Dr Berhanu wants to work with the murderous regime of Meles Zenawi, that is his right. But he must not be allowed to use CUD as a cover to advance his own agenda.
The people of Ethiopia have spoken clearly–they don't want to be governed by the Meles regime for five more years. Berhanu Nega must respect the people's desire to be liberated from dictatorship now, not five years from now.
Sep 21, 2005
Ethiopian Review Editorial
Sep 21, 2005
A statement has been posted in the name of CUD on Kestedemena Party's web site that contradicts Ato Hailu Shawel's announcement that CUD will not enter parliament. The statement does not bear CUD's official stamp, and we have confirmed that the CUD council did not authorize the statement posted on Kestedemena's web site against its chairman.
The Kestedemena Party chairman, Dr Berhanu Nega, who is the campaign manager for CUD, also held a press conference today (Sep 21) and told reporters that Ato Hailu's statement doesn't represent CUD. Dr Berhanu doesn't have the authority to contradict the chairman of CUD. By coming out against Ato Hailu, not only he is violating party discipline, he is also creating confusion and frustration among the CUD supporters, and the public at large.
Of course, this is not the first time that Dr Berhanu tried to contradict the CUD chairman and assuming the role of CUD leader. Since May 15, he has been trying to silence the chairman who has been championing the cause of the vast majority of Ethiopians for past several years. It is absurd why an election campaign manager is given a free hand to destroy the image of the coalition and its chairman. Dr Berhanu, who has appeard in the opposition camp just a few months before the election, has been the source of confusion and division in the CUD. Once again, Ethiopian Review urges the CUD leadership to take a corrective action as soon as possible in order to preserve its creditability.
The people of Ethiopia are with Ato Hailu Shawel. If Dr Berhanu wants to work with the murderous regime of Meles Zenawi, that is his right. But he must not be allowed to use CUD as a cover to advance his own agenda.
The people of Ethiopia have spoken clearly–they don't want to be governed by the Meles regime for five more years. Berhanu Nega must respect the people's desire to be liberated from dictatorship now, not five years from now.
Elias Kifle on Berhanu Nega
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/articles/1418
My encounter with Berhanu Nega - Elias Kifle
Nov 01, 2007
By Elias Kifle
On Saturday, Oct. 27, Kinijit North America, on behalf of the Kinijit delegation, hosted a special get together in Virginia for members of the media and representatives of Kinijit chapters. There were about 100 people all together. My associates and I were among those who had been invited.
The who's who of Kinijit in North America was at the party. The delegates — Dr Hailu Araya, Ato Gizachew Shiferraw, Ato Brook Kebede, and Dr Berhanu Nega — were there. Wzt. Bertukan, who was sick with flu, could not make it. Ato Aklog Lemeneh, Ato Yilma Adamou and all the other officials of the Kinijit NA and DC, Ethiomedia's Abreha Belai, Addis Dimts Radio's Abebe Belew, EMF's Dawit Kebede… were all there.
As part of the event's program, the delegates gave plaques to representatives of Kinijit chapters in the U.S. in recognition of their tireless efforts in the past two years in providing critically needed support to the party.
Members of the Kinijit Youth League also received a special recognition as the current workhorse and the future leaders of the party.
Cultural songs were being played to entertain the gathering. It seems that the value of cultural activities, including music, in politics is well understood by Kinijitians. Most Kinijit events include songs from different ethnic groups.
Lastly, Ato Aklog, on behalf of Kinijit North America, expressed his appreciation to Ethiopian Review, Ethiomedia, Addis Dimts Radio, Abugida and other Ethiopian media for helping with the Kinijit delegation's successful USA tour.
I had attended several of these kinds of events over the years. But none compares with what I have witnessed or experienced on Oct. 27:
1) I am impressed with the professionalism of the organizers — from the way they dressed up, to how they welcome and interact with the invited guests, and
2) The delegates exude positive energy, optimism and hope that is hard to describe. They are leaders to be loved, not feared. They were approachable and sociable. They were going from table to table to say hello and they even went to the stage and did some iskista and other traditional Ethiopian dances. It was a memorable experience.
But the highlight of the event for me personally was to finally meet with Berhanu Nega. It was our first face to face meeting. Even though I had been one of Dr Berhanu's harshest critics in the past, I always maintained a great deal of respect for him as a scholar and political leader. My disagreement with him had been over strategy and organizational rules, not over character. I thought his position as the campaign manager of Kinijit two years ago did not allow him to make public statements contradicting the chairman of the party. If the executive committee of Kinijit disagrees with the chairman, the proper way to communicate the disagreement to the public, if deemed necessary, is through the party's official spokesperson — the same way as it is done right now. Other than that, the tremendous contribution made by Dr Berhanu to the Kinijit movement was well noted.
I believe that it was the intellectual fire power of Dr Berhanu Nega and Prof. Merera Gudina of ONC (credit where it is due), joined by Ato Lidetu Ayalew's oratorical skill, that left the Woyanne regime politically naked and led to its defeat at the polls in May 2005. This is not to say that others did not play critical roles, particularly Ato Hailu Shawel, who helped organize the countryside, Ato Andargachew Tsige, who was the architect of Kinijit's election campaign, and many others.
Unfortunately, Merera and Lidetu sold out the movement and became Woyanne's decoration in the rubber stamp parliament. The much respected Hailu Shawel sadly turned himself into a double-tongued dictator. On the other hand, Kinijit gave birth to new heroes — the likes of Bertukan Mideksa and Muluneh Eyoel — to join Hailu Araya, Yacob Hailemariam, Gizachew Shiferraw, Berhanu Nega and others in leading the movement forward.
Whereas Hailu Shawel and Lidetu have fallen off Kinijit's freedom train in disgrace, Berhanu Nega stayed loyal to the cause. Instead of seeking power (he could have been the mayor of Addis Ababa), he chose to respect the people's wish at great personal sacrifices. He thus proved himself to be a man of integrity in keeping the trust bestowed upon him by the people of Ethiopia. This is on top of the brilliant mind he has. Hopefully, he will stay true to the principles of democratic governance and continue to grow as a leader… Who wants to end up disgraced like Lidetu, Hailu and Taye?
It was with all this in the back of my mind that I met with Berhanu Nega on Oct. 27. As I was chatting with a couple of friends, he walked across the room and came to talk to me. That by itself says a lot about him. Which Ethiopian politician, or religious leader, or any prominent person do we know of who would walk up to his critic to say welcome and exchange greetings? Can you, for example, imagine Iyasu Alemayehu doing that? Or Hailu Shawel? Or Meles? In Meles' case, his lawyers sought death penalty against me just for being a critic. The kangaroo court decided that death is too harsh and gave me life in prison instead, just for expressing my views on a web site. After witnessing how Ato Hailu Shawel's gang mistreated members of the media at their Oct. 14 public meeting (fiasco) in Washington DC, I am certain that if he comes to power, there will continue to be no free press in Ethiopia.
My encounter with Dr Berhanu lasted for about 15 minutes. We agreed to get together some other time for further discussion on some of the issues we raised during our brief conversation.
p.s. see pic at the bottom of the blog of Berhanu and Elias lovefest.
My encounter with Berhanu Nega - Elias Kifle
Nov 01, 2007
By Elias Kifle
On Saturday, Oct. 27, Kinijit North America, on behalf of the Kinijit delegation, hosted a special get together in Virginia for members of the media and representatives of Kinijit chapters. There were about 100 people all together. My associates and I were among those who had been invited.
The who's who of Kinijit in North America was at the party. The delegates — Dr Hailu Araya, Ato Gizachew Shiferraw, Ato Brook Kebede, and Dr Berhanu Nega — were there. Wzt. Bertukan, who was sick with flu, could not make it. Ato Aklog Lemeneh, Ato Yilma Adamou and all the other officials of the Kinijit NA and DC, Ethiomedia's Abreha Belai, Addis Dimts Radio's Abebe Belew, EMF's Dawit Kebede… were all there.
As part of the event's program, the delegates gave plaques to representatives of Kinijit chapters in the U.S. in recognition of their tireless efforts in the past two years in providing critically needed support to the party.
Members of the Kinijit Youth League also received a special recognition as the current workhorse and the future leaders of the party.
Cultural songs were being played to entertain the gathering. It seems that the value of cultural activities, including music, in politics is well understood by Kinijitians. Most Kinijit events include songs from different ethnic groups.
Lastly, Ato Aklog, on behalf of Kinijit North America, expressed his appreciation to Ethiopian Review, Ethiomedia, Addis Dimts Radio, Abugida and other Ethiopian media for helping with the Kinijit delegation's successful USA tour.
I had attended several of these kinds of events over the years. But none compares with what I have witnessed or experienced on Oct. 27:
1) I am impressed with the professionalism of the organizers — from the way they dressed up, to how they welcome and interact with the invited guests, and
2) The delegates exude positive energy, optimism and hope that is hard to describe. They are leaders to be loved, not feared. They were approachable and sociable. They were going from table to table to say hello and they even went to the stage and did some iskista and other traditional Ethiopian dances. It was a memorable experience.
But the highlight of the event for me personally was to finally meet with Berhanu Nega. It was our first face to face meeting. Even though I had been one of Dr Berhanu's harshest critics in the past, I always maintained a great deal of respect for him as a scholar and political leader. My disagreement with him had been over strategy and organizational rules, not over character. I thought his position as the campaign manager of Kinijit two years ago did not allow him to make public statements contradicting the chairman of the party. If the executive committee of Kinijit disagrees with the chairman, the proper way to communicate the disagreement to the public, if deemed necessary, is through the party's official spokesperson — the same way as it is done right now. Other than that, the tremendous contribution made by Dr Berhanu to the Kinijit movement was well noted.
I believe that it was the intellectual fire power of Dr Berhanu Nega and Prof. Merera Gudina of ONC (credit where it is due), joined by Ato Lidetu Ayalew's oratorical skill, that left the Woyanne regime politically naked and led to its defeat at the polls in May 2005. This is not to say that others did not play critical roles, particularly Ato Hailu Shawel, who helped organize the countryside, Ato Andargachew Tsige, who was the architect of Kinijit's election campaign, and many others.
Unfortunately, Merera and Lidetu sold out the movement and became Woyanne's decoration in the rubber stamp parliament. The much respected Hailu Shawel sadly turned himself into a double-tongued dictator. On the other hand, Kinijit gave birth to new heroes — the likes of Bertukan Mideksa and Muluneh Eyoel — to join Hailu Araya, Yacob Hailemariam, Gizachew Shiferraw, Berhanu Nega and others in leading the movement forward.
Whereas Hailu Shawel and Lidetu have fallen off Kinijit's freedom train in disgrace, Berhanu Nega stayed loyal to the cause. Instead of seeking power (he could have been the mayor of Addis Ababa), he chose to respect the people's wish at great personal sacrifices. He thus proved himself to be a man of integrity in keeping the trust bestowed upon him by the people of Ethiopia. This is on top of the brilliant mind he has. Hopefully, he will stay true to the principles of democratic governance and continue to grow as a leader… Who wants to end up disgraced like Lidetu, Hailu and Taye?
It was with all this in the back of my mind that I met with Berhanu Nega on Oct. 27. As I was chatting with a couple of friends, he walked across the room and came to talk to me. That by itself says a lot about him. Which Ethiopian politician, or religious leader, or any prominent person do we know of who would walk up to his critic to say welcome and exchange greetings? Can you, for example, imagine Iyasu Alemayehu doing that? Or Hailu Shawel? Or Meles? In Meles' case, his lawyers sought death penalty against me just for being a critic. The kangaroo court decided that death is too harsh and gave me life in prison instead, just for expressing my views on a web site. After witnessing how Ato Hailu Shawel's gang mistreated members of the media at their Oct. 14 public meeting (fiasco) in Washington DC, I am certain that if he comes to power, there will continue to be no free press in Ethiopia.
My encounter with Dr Berhanu lasted for about 15 minutes. We agreed to get together some other time for further discussion on some of the issues we raised during our brief conversation.
p.s. see pic at the bottom of the blog of Berhanu and Elias lovefest.
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