Comments on: With Birtukan gone, smooth sailing for Ethiopia’s Meles

By: Elyaad

Elyaad — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:48:30 +0000

His predecessor’s regime killed generations of Ethiopians and Mr Meles’ regime killed the dreams of generations of Ethiopian youth including me. no body can dream of a better future or career in his/her life unless that person is a member or supporter of the party. the ethnic background also matters. I was unfortunate enough to be a student when this regime took over. When I finished university, I was full of hope and expectation believing the country gives me the ground to unlock my potential and reach my dreams. But I was denied of every chance time after time. Now before I know it I am an old man who wasted his time trying every hole of opportunity unsuccessfully . Now my time as a human being is wasted. this regime has stoled my life. I can say nobody else can understand the story of the Tunisian man who burned himself to death. This regime is worse when compared to what was there in Tunisia. I was so unfortunate to be born and alive when this party took control of the country

By: brian2

brian2 — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:29:32 +0000

Keep dreaming. Meles and EPDRF’s name is here to stay,where it belongs,in the history books of our country,shining for everyone to see,as the leader and group/party who liberated Ethiopia and as the party and leader who set Ethiopia on the right track for development.Those of you, paper tigers, sitting behind your screens, learn something useful from the real man, Meles. Some people always forget that Ethiopia is not just Addis Ababa. Ethiopia, wether you like to hear it or not,is a federation of many different cultures, languages and peoples. The old “Centralized System” is not coming back. Accept it, and move on.
Bottoms-up!

By: Madcabbie

Madcabbie — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:30:45 +0000

When Meles and his clones slaughtered hundreds of kids after the phony 2005 elections, the West let it slide by just offering lip service. The unfortunate fact is that United States and Europe are not interested to put themselves proactively involved unless the situation has a direct national security threat or financial gain for themselves. Meles is enjoying the smooth ride, not because of the absence of Ms Birtukan, but the lack of interest of the US and Europe to promote basic human rights in a poor country like Ethiopia. Meles is rewarded financially instead, for destroying his own people.

By: fikre

fikre — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:06:17 +0000

The revolution to oust brutal dictators in northern Africa is happening while there is no strong and organized opposition party because decades of persecution.
If you think the disappointed of an opposition party or even a political figure will help Meles to safely continue his brutal oppression, then you are dead WRONG. The people have learned that it is the responsibility of every individual to say no to repression. I argue quite the opposite and say that the absence of some genuine decent IS indeed a sure criteria that will lead to the peoples revolt.

Look at for example Libya. There is no opposition party or figure there. None! It is the circumstance where people have to live for decades that leads them to rebel against dictators. The same thing can be said about eastern Europe during the 90s.

I think the absence of a well respected and loved figure like Birtukan creates a very dangerous situation for the Meles regime. Hopeless people do not afraid to pay the final price to be free and get hope again.

By: Abebe

Abebe — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:58:58 +0000

There is no organized opposition group in Ethiopia; it’s a free-for-all.

Burtukan Medeksa has done nothing but play the female and evangelical (“Pente” – Pentecostal) angle to splinter and fundraise for herself, having netted no less than $1 million on her last US tour…Unlikely she’ll manage that on her latest trip. She has brought in Seye Abraha as co-chair of her party, a man so murderous and corrupt, he was kicked out of the ruling party…But in the opportunistic world of Ethiopian politics, the enemy of your enemy is your friend.

By: Gomoraw

Gomoraw — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:28:24 +0000

Before the uprising now rocking Libya, Moammar Gaddafi walked with an aura of a national hero trusted by the people and the army. When trouble set in, however, he had no one to turn to but hired mercenaries. No difference with Meles Zenawi. For the West, he may look like a leader at peace with himself and country. In reality, he is no different than his Libyan counterpart whose days are numbered now.

By: Johny_Utah

Johny_Utah — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:37:43 +0000

The average Ethiopian has a love/hate relationship with Meles. He’s like a dad that’s way too strict. They appreciate the good he has done but now they’re growing up and they resent the repression that’s holding them back. If they see all their friends defying curfew and making choices, they want this for themselves.

It’s too bad about Birtukan. She or someone like her are the eventual progression if Ethiopia is to continue moving forward. She just needs better people around her. I would leave the country too if I spent two years in jail and no one did anything about it.

By: danpol

danpol — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:33:39 +0000

You guys are amazing. There is no “strong” opposition group in Egypt,Tunisia,Yemen,Libya,Bahrain but that didn’t save the regimes from the people’s warth. Zenawi’s fate will not be any different weather he is a darling of the west or not. Why don’t you wait a little bit?

By: Bico

Bico — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:28:29 +0000

Western journalists as well as diplomats and leaders said the same thing about, Egypt, Tunisia etc. in your undercover bigoted lowered expectation for Africans, you always underestimate our resolve and determination to build a country that is free, democratic and where justice rain supreme. Your witty man and our Dictator Meses dictates to as usual, while you praise his wittiness, why can’t he let us speak what is in our mind? Why do you as a journalist feel you know better for Ethiopians? Surly you know we don’t have a single free media? Free internet? Free platform to express ourselves and exchange ideas without being curtailed by the gangster’s organisation, TPLF? Mr journalist, Why do you feel we are like children that listen to dictates from Melse? Because he has a gun on our head? or because he is witty man as you put it? Why do you insult our intelligence by telling lies about things we already know are true? Why don’t your write about the killing and torture our brothers and sisters live under everyday? Do you think we don’t know what has happened to Birtukan? Surly you are familiar about how we all get treated like second class citizens in our own country because of TPLF’s policy? Please stop your mabo jambo and clear your conscience by telling the truth. As to how long your witty friend and our dictator dictates to us for, let’s wait and see who will be correct as i will give him not more than six month. I was in Ethiopia until Sunday and all i can say is the suppressed volcano is close to explode unless your witty man implements the necessary fast, honest and deep reaching reforms. Anyway good luck to your witty man’s remaining oppressive time! By the way, i don’t expect you to post this as you sound like you go to bed with dictators! As your witty man routinely suppress our freedom of expression.