Elias Kifle on Berhane Mewa

Kinijit North America Support Committee's leadership must stop dividing Ethiopians

Ethiopian Review May 4, 2006

For the past several month, particularly since the May 15 elections, there had been the kind of unity that has never existed among the Ethiopian community in the Washington DC area. The support groups of both major parties, as well as civic groups, religious leaders and the media, had been working together for a common goal. It is as a result of this unity that for the first time ever members of the U.S. Congress and a high level State Department official addressed an Ethiopian political rally on February 1st. The Ethiopian community was united because both the Kinijit and Hibret political leadership in Washington DC decided that we can do better and get strong results when we work together. Similarly in Europe, Ethiopians are united more than ever. That is one of the reasons why the European Parliament is taking a firm stand against the Meles dictatorship. It is because of this unity that members of the European Parliament addressed an Ethiopian political rally in Brussels on March 23. Now, three months later, the situation in Washington DC has changed. The Kinijit North America Support Committee under the leadership of Berhane Mewa decided that from now on it will conduct any political activity in the Washington DC area by itself. So when the Ethiopian political and civil groups joint task force held a meeting a few weeks ago to start planning on a special event on May 15, the Kinijit Support Committee did not show up saying that they have already decided to hold a demonstration on May 16. A delegation from the task force went to Kinijit Support Committee office to ask what has changed between February 1st and now that made them decide that from now on they will go it alone. Ato Berhane told the delegation, among other things, that Kinijit does not need to consult with other groups to plan and carry out political activities, but he is willing to discuss with Hibret as a political party. The delegation left the meeting puzzled and disappointed by what they heard. The important point here is not when to hold a special event to commemorate the sacrifice made and the victory earned by the people of Ethiopia on May 15, 2005. The problem is the ill-advised decision by the Kinijit Support Committee in North America to try to exclude several Ethiopian civic, political and media groups. The purpose of this decision has not yet been made clear by Ato Berhane, but for any one with a common sense this is a clear demonstration of pure arrogance. The Support Committee's leadership grew this arrogant as a result of the blind support it was getting from the Kinijit supporters in the Diaspora and the hesitation by the Ethiopian media to criticize them (with the exception of Ethiopian Review). The zealously of Kinijit supporters made the support group leaders feel like they are the most wise, omnipotent leaders of the struggle and any one who is even thinking about challenging them is labeled "woyanne," "anti-Kinijit", etc. What could be more "anti-Kinijit" than creating division in our community? It must also be noted that the real Kinijit is in Ethiopia and the real leaders of Kinijit are in jail. Reportedly, the Kinijit leaders in jail are terribly disappointed by the way the North America support committee is carrying out its responsibility. Ethiopian Review calls on Ato Berhane Mewa and his colleagues to stop dividing the Ethiopian community in Washington DC. You are hurting the elected leaders who are languishing in jail, not to mention that you are hindering the diplomatic effort by presenting a dividing community. Arrogance is not a sign of strength for a political leader-- it is a lack of political skill and maturity.