From: michael seium (michael.seium@gmail.com)
Date: Mon Aug 10 2009 - 22:13:11 EDT
Historic meeting in Washington DC<http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10521>
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10521
WASHINGTON DC — The Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front (EPPF) held its first
official meeting in Washington DC on Sunday, August 9, 2009. The meeting was
organizing by the Washington EPPF Chapter. (Photos and video will be posted
shortly)
Head of EPPF's press office, Ato Demis Belete, opened the meeting with a
one-minute silent prayer for martyrs of the struggle and welcoming remarks.
Representatives of the Washington Chapter also welcomed the guests and
participants.
Ato Melke Mengiste, secretary general of the EPPF International Committee,
then took the stage. He spoke about the founding mission of EPPF, how it was
created 10 years ago, and made a call to the participants to volunteer their
time and resources for the struggle to liberate Ethiopia from the Woyanne
tribal junta.
Following Ato Melke's speech, Wzr. Sophia Tesfamariam and Dr Berhe
Habtegiorgis from the Eritrean community made brief remarks in a show of
solidarity with Ethiopians who are fighting against the anti-Ethiopia
Woyanne junta. Dr Berhe's speech, which was based on his first-hand
experience as a one-time resident of Addis Ababa and a member of the
Ethiopian armed forces under HaileSeliassie's government, had captivated the
audience.
The next speaker was Ethiopian Review's editor-in-chief Elias Kifle who
briefly talked about Ethiopia-Eritrea relationships and Eritrean
government's role in preventing the Woyanne tribal junta from dismembering
Ethiopia and implementing its Greater Tigray Republic manifesto.
Several prominent Ethiopians such as Cmd. Tassew Desta, former head of
Ethiopian Navy, Dr Daniel Kindie, Professor of History at Herderson State
University in Arkansas, Ato Fekade Shewakena, an Ethiopian political
analyst, Lij Seifu Zawdie of Medhin Party, Ato Abebe Belew of Addis Dimts
Radio, Abakia, a writer and videographer, Ato Billilign Woldesenbet, human
rights advocate, and Wzr. Meseret Agonafer, chairperson of Ethiopian
Review's Board of Trustees, graced the meeting with their presence.
Dr Daniel Kindie briefly talked about the need for some kind of federation
betweenEthiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibiouti.
The keynote speaker of the meeting was Ato Sileshi Tilahun, EPPF's head of
organizational affairs for the International Committee. He spoke about how
EPPF was created, its mission, organizational structure and current
activities.
Ato Sileshi is playing a key role in reorganizing the EPPF structure around
the world. He is responsible for the creation of EPPF chapters, the recent
launching of its radio program that is being broadcast to Ethiopia, a new
web site, eppfonline.org, and the opening of a large headquarters in Asmara
that is currently housing EPPF Radio's studio. Sileshi's remarkable
achievement in a span of short time in transforming EPPF's political and
external operations has caused him to be a primary target of various groups.
The last segment of the August 9 public meeting was a Question and
Answer session
in which a lively discussion took place.
The meeting was concluded in a strong note by Ato Melkie Mengiste who
repeated his call to all the participants to join him in going to the field
and support EPPF.
The EPPF August 9 meeting in Washington DC has for the first time in decades
brought together Ethiopians and Eritreans under one roof as allies. It is a
fast growing alliance that is capable of building a foundation for peace and
prosperity in the Horn of Africa region.
Similar events are being held around the world that involve interactions
between Ethiopians and Eritreans. On Sunday, a delegation of Ethiopians led
by Ato Melkie Mengiste and Ato Sileshi Tilahun attended the Eritrea Festival
at the Washington Convention Center. Next week, Ethiopian Review editor will
take part in a panel discussion that is organized by Community of Eritreans
in the Bay Area (Click here for more info<http://www.gerset.com/Panel_2009.html>
).