Messages of Solidarity

Prof. Al Mariam, and others | August 13, 2006

Three of Ethiomedia Program coordinators review the final plan for the day (from left: Trengo, Mestawot and Abate) (Photo: Ethiomedia.com)

Congratulations Ethiomedia.com!

Congratulations Ato Abraha Belai, and everyone at Ethiomedia.com.

I am delighted that you are celebrating Ethiomedia Day in Seattle, WA on August 13, 2006 . What a proud milestone in bringing news, analysis and commentary to Ethiopians in the Diaspora and in Ethiopia!

Your bold experiment in "cyber-journalism" has greatly enhanced our knowledge of current events in our homeland, and strengthened our commitment to the cause of our people. You are to be commended for creating a forum which presents information, analysis, insight and enlightenment on the contemporary situation in Ethiopia . Many thanks for your untiring efforts and dedication

I would like to make a special note of the fact that I am most proud of the contributions our young men and women at Ethiomedia for taking the lead to inform Ethiopians in the Diaspora, and within Ethiopia itself, despite government attempts to censor access to the Ethiomedia webpages. What I find inspiring and heartwarming is the fact that our young people who operate websites such as Ethiomedia have continued the struggle for a free and independent press at a time when the Ethiopian government has decimated the free press in our homeland through harsh censorship, persecution and imprisonment of independent journalists. By rising to the occasion, Ethiomedia and the other websites have helped us come together from every corner of the globe and form a strong Ethiopian "cyber-community." I thank you for making it possible for me to be part of that community.

The great American journalist, Geroge Seldes once observed: "A people that wants to be free must arm itself with a free press." As we have no free press in our homeland, Ethiomedia and others like it are the principal means by which we can tell and show the world the daily oppression, persecution and indignities our people face at the hands of a ruthless and bloodthirsty regime.

Thank you Ethiomedia.com for defending our right to know and to communicate freely, and for helping us come together to take collective action.

Best wishes for the continued success of Ethomedia.com.

Onward! Ethiomedia, onward!!

P.S. It is my pleasure to show my support to Ethiomedia by making a contribution. I urge all Ethiopians in the Diaspora to do the same.
Alemayehu (Al) G. Mariam, Ph.D., J.D. (Esq.,)
Professor

"A free ride on Ethiomedia"

Dear Editor,

The last 15 years have been of special importance in Ethiopia's bumpy stride on the road to democracy and the rule of law. I am one of those who believe Ethiomedia has been at the forefront of the endaevour by ensuring the flow of news and views between and among Ethiopians of all sorts of political persuasions. Hence , I would like to joing many others in sending my message of congratulations on your Big day.

As someone regularly tuned to your website, I believe it is incumbent on me to provide honest feedback. While I believe, Ethiomedia still continues be the most influencial and most widely visited websites on Ethiopia's political matters today , I also believe that it has increasingly become a website where even anti Ethiopian voices can make their case as long as they are seen to oppose the ruling party in Addis Ababa.

That I believe is a shame to a website which I and many people I know have always regarded as the most truly Ethiopian website with an unflinching loyalty to the Ethiopian state. I am sure all fair minded visitors of your website would agree with me when I say that your faithfulness to the one Ethiopian state has been remarkably compromised so much that even officially anti Ethiopian elements and groups have been allowed to strike hard on our dearly held values of unity in diversity on your very website.

Your website has been carrying reports of our armies defeat at the hands of foreign backed anti Ethiopian insurgencies. Reports and views featured on your website have openly called for an all out civil war and a grinding halt to humanitarian and development assistance to our country.

The views and news of openly separatist groups have been considerably entertained as if they were seen as a viable alternative to our political problems. Put simply , the management of materials on your website looks a bit worrying as vehemently anti Ethiopian elements such as the OLF, ONLF, EPPF, and even Somalia's UIC get their free rides on the Ethiomedia bandwagon to scatter their deranged ideas of change, separation and religious extremism.

I continue to trust that Ethiomedia has the integrety to reflect on some of the concerns I have raised above.

Once again , a Happy Ethiomeidia Day for you and all your friends.

Elman
London , UK

Addis Voice Message

On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of Ethiomedia, Addis Voice would like to express its solidarity with Ethiomedia, one of the very few websites which has been in the forefront of the struggle for freedom, equality, justice and democracy. At these darkest hours of modern Ethiopian history, where the Meles regime has put off all the flickering candles of hope, a small army of websites led by Ethiomedia have remained defiant against tyranny, injustice, repressions, discrimination, crime against humanity and rampant corruption.

Addis Voice acknowledges the fact that it has drawn inspiration from Ethiomedia, particularly the professionalism of its founding editor Abreha Belai and his unswerving commitment to serve the cause of freedom, peace, justice, equality and democracy, which have long remained the greatest values of mankind. We thank and admire Abreha and so many other pro-democracy Ethiopians of Tigrian origin for defeating the the demon of ethnic politics that has possessed the ruling monarchy and its followers. They could have been favoured and awarded power and wealth, but at a great cost that goes to the extent of being accused of being traitors they have staunchly refused to be part of an elititist criminal syndicate based on language and race.

Unfortunately, the struggle of the Ethiopian people has been greatly impeded not only by the attacks of the tyrannical regime which has shattered the hopes of our poor nation by killing, maiming and jailing innocent citizens opposed to its misrule, but also by the inaction of so many capable Ethiopians. Every Ethiopian should make utmost effort to contribute their due share to the grand cause of liberty and independence from the darkness of tyranny at every available opportunity and in every possible way.

There are millions of Ethiopians across the world who love their country and people as well as their freedom. This unquestionable love should be enough to nudge and move people to act, to leave their differences behind and unite in a spirit of reconciliation and brotherhood for a greater cause that many innocent kids and mums have fallen for. We need to turn our patriotic rhetoric into practical actions, no matter how little they might seem. The history of mankind provides sufficient testimony to the fact that the smallest inaction defeats the biggest inactions.

More than any other time, the Ethiopian people deserve to have media outlets that can reach home to keep the spirit of freedom and democracy alive and reignite the diminishing spirit of hope. With the free press shut down, the taxpayer's media monopolized by the ruling oligarchy and the advocates of freedom thrown in hellish jails by cowards who are afraid of liberty of the masses , we cannot afford to ignore investing today on alternative media outlets.

Ethiopians in the Diaspora should strengthen the few flickering websites that keep the spirit of the struggle alive. Almost all the popular websites are individual media initiatives, with little or no financial backing and manpower. They cannot afford to employ their own correspondents in Ethiopia. Almost none of them even afford to have offices of their own as they are run from bedrooms. These important media outlets that reach millions everyday should come out of tiny bedrooms and run like organisations to contribute much more effectively to the struggle. The responsibility is for all, not a burden for the few. With millions of Ethiopians in the Diaspora, this is probably the least we can do.

Another important area that must not be ignored is the need to set up at least one strong radio station that can reach home with messages of hope and freedom, a radio station run by professionals and more committed to the cause than to the acrimony of some elements with the opposition camp. We can no longer depend on the BBC, VOA or CNN as they are run by governments and corporations which have more overriding interests than freedom and democracy in a poor helpless country like Ethiopia. It is high time that we Ethiopians acted in unison to create our own VOAs, CNNs, BBCs and Reurters. It is no longer the time to wait endlessly for foreign reporters and commentators to tell our stories. We need to have our own reporters, analysts, commentators even preachers, more credible and trustworthy than George Bush and Tony Blair, who have the courage and the will to tell and stand for the whole truth that the Western world has chosen to ignore for far too long to please one of their servile African tyrants.

Those of us who live in richer countries can afford to turn our small dreams into big realities as long as our patriotism is able to move us far beyond paying lip service to the cause of freedom. If individuals are able to make differences, why can't millions of patriots across the world able to break the shackles of backward mentality, distrust, bickering and suspicion to work in unison and make a huge difference? We don't have to think and debate in vain to find the obvious answer to such a simple question. The answer is to exorcise the spirit of distrust and enemity especially from some quarters of the opposition camp and start acting decisively, united under the banner freedom.

Again we offer our heartfelt congratulations to Ethiomedia for informing, inspiring and keeping the spirit of the struggle alive. Addis Voice, which was launched into cyberspace on the historic day May 15th, 2006, reaffirms its commitment on its part to work with Ethiomedia and all freedom loving Ethiopians to add a momentum in our long and arduous journey to freedom.

Our unfinished peaceful revolution has reached an irreversible stage. We all have a duty to bring it to a successful conclusion. Standing on the grave of tyranny with the immortal speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ringing fresh in our ears, sooner or later we Ethiopians will also be able to sing his favorite hymn together: " Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last."

God bless Ethiopia.