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From: Haile Abraham (haileab99@msn.com)
Date: Fri Apr 22 2011 - 15:24:48 EDT
Hello All,
On Wednesday, April 20, 2011, a character by the name of Peter Heinlein reported some totally fabricated news on VoA under a headline of "Eritrean Refugees in Ethiopia say 'Enough'; Demand Regime Change." In his report, Heinlen stated that "Eritrean exile group living in Addis Abeba and in refugee camps in Northern Ethiopia (Tigray) has held a simultaneous rally demanding the ouster of Eritrea's government."
To some naive bystander, this report may appear to be a good peace of story and also a good journalistic work by both Mr. Heinleim and Voice of America news outlet. But unfortunately this sort of irresponsible journalistic behavior not only betrays the very essence of journalism but also it exposese the evil nature of those who concocted them and those who feed on them. It is not secret by now that the desperate Woyane lie-machine is daily fabricating lies and twisting events in order to sustain its fragile life-support adminstration. So, in the same evils spirite, on Wednesday, according to some very reliable sources, these desperate Woyane thugs were able to huddle-up few Eritreans in a hotel in Addis Abeba and handed them some "Beka!" slogans to show to some invited news media. The fact is that there was no rally or demonstration by ANY Eritrean in Addis Abeba against the Eritrean government, or even the Ethiopian government for that matter. In additions, the so called "simultaneous rally" as it was reported by VoA, it turned out to be a protest march held on the same day by hundreds of Tigray citizens in Mekele to voice their opposition to the order by the city administration to vacate their home.
So where and how is the Simultaneous rally of "Beka" against the Eritrean government when the entire city of Addis Abeba and other cities in Ethiopia are being spray painted with the "Beka" slogans calling on the ouster of Meles and his cronies? The Woyane buffoons are getting crazier every day and no one is taking them seriously, but for VoA to jump on this childish theatric without providing facts as well as without supporting photos, the news station is at its lowest point.
Haile A.
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Eritrean Refugees in Ethiopia Say 'Enough'; Demand Regime Change
Peter Heinlein | Addis Ababa April 20, 2011
Ethiopia Advocates Overthrow of Eritrean Government
An Eritrean exile group has held simultaneous rallies in Addis Ababa and refugee camps in northern Ethiopia demanding the ouster of Eritrea’s government. The demonstrations coincide with Ethiopia’s recent switch to a more hardline approach toward its northern rival.
More than 600 Eritrean refugees met at an Addis Ababa hotel Wednesday, all wearing identical paper visors with the word "Enough" printed on the side. "Enough" of what they repeatedly called the dictatorial regime of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
Organizers said they were in touch by phone with at least five refugee camps in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Afar regions where similar demonstrations were held among the 60,000 strong Eritrean refugee population.
APEritrea's President Isaias Afwerki (file photo)
The gatherings are part of a renewed push in Ethiopia to spark an uprising against Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s 18-year rule.
Organizer Kibrom Sibhatu says his Eritrean Urban Refugees Association advocates peaceful protests like those that have recently targeted repressive governments in North Africa and the Middle East.
"We are not an armed group, we are simply political refugees, asylum seekers and we had a lesson from our region that it is possible to withstand peacefully in order to [bring] down the current regime in Eritrea," said Sibhatu.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a two-year border war from 1998 to 2000 in which 70,000 people died. There has since been an uneasy peace, with both sides massing tens of thousands of troops along the disputed border.
In recent weeks, Ethiopia has stepped up its anti-Eritrean rhetoric, saying it had intercepted would-be terrorists dispatched by Asmara to create havoc in Addis Ababa during an African Union summit. Eritrea has emphatically denied the charge, but Prime Minister Meles Zenawi told journalists last month Ethiopia’s foreign policy has been revised to actively advocate the overthrow of the Asmara government.
There have been reports of armed Eritrean rebel fighters training in camps on the Ethiopian side of the frontier. But Kibrom Sebhatu denied knowledge of military activity among the refugees.
"If Ethiopian government supports us, it only gives us asylum and only allows us to make this rally and this conference. Otherwise we have no idea what you are saying about these military camps in Tigray and Afar," he said.
Kibrom says he plans to continue the "Enough" rallies.
Ironically, "Enough" is also the slogan of a campaign seen on social networking internet sites calling for demonstrations against Ethiopia’s government next month, when Prime Minister Meles celebrates the 20th anniversary of the coup that brought his Tigrayan Marxist guerrilla group to power.