April 16, 2014
This meeting was organized by the Democratic Change in Ethiopia
Support Organization in Norway (DCESON) and
took place on the 12th of April 2014 in Oslo from 15.00-21:00 p.m.
It was attended by
around 200 Ethiopians who live in Oslo and the other parts of Norway. The guest
speaker at the meeting was ato Bizuneh Tsige who is the member of the
leadership of Ginbo7 movement for justice, democracy and freedom. The
guest speaker held a broad speech.
The public meeting was opened by holding a
minute of silence to remember the victims of the TPLF racist rulers and
prisoners of conscience in Ethiopia. The minute of silence was
led by ato Abi Amare who is in charge of the public relations part of the
DCESON. Following this, ato Yohannes Alemu, the chairman of the DCESON spoke
about how the DCESON was established and its objectives. He told the
participants that the organization at the moment supports the UDJ party that is based in
Ethiopia and Ginbot7 that is based in exile (abroad). Moreover, he stressed
that all Ethiopians should overcome their differences and contribute to
the decisive all sided struggle to get rid of the racist rule of the TPLF
in Ethiopia.
The guest speaker ato
Bizuneh Tsige spoke about the history of the struggle of Ethiopians beginning
from the period of the rule of Emperor Haile Selaasie to the present one. He
pointed out that the current racist TPLF rule is totally different from the
preceding governments because it is based on and fosters ethnicity. Ato Bizuneh
Tsige also mentioned the causes for the collapse of the two former governments
and dealt in detail with the clear causes that can bring about the rapid
collapse of the TPLF regime. He mentioned the following two issues as the
significant ones in the present Ethiopian politics.
1. The current conflict
between the Muslim community and the TPLF regime.
2. The opposition to
the renaissance dam.
In relation to the
opposition of the Muslim community, he indicated that the struggle is peaceful
and the TPLF regime has not been able to suppress it. He admires the struggle.
The regime has not addressed and answered the demands of the Muslim community
and he does not expect any positive or constructive response from the TPLF
regime. The evidence for this view is the fact that the regime has not met any
of the four demands of the Muslim community so far. Besides, the regime has
arrested the leaders of the Muslim community on the basis of fabricated
charges. The prisoners are languishing in the regime`s prison without the due
process of law. He could not say how long the struggle of the Muslims will
continue as it is now but he said he does not believe the struggle will
continue and go long without changing its present direction. He stated that the
struggle of the Muslim community can succeed as part of the overall struggle of
Ethiopians for their basic human and democratic rights. This struggle should go
further and include all the rights.
Concerning the issue
of the renaissance dam, he explained that the regime has come up with this idea
or project to distract the attention of the public from the repression and
crisis in the country. The TPLF dictatorship does not have any national vision
and has gone to the extent of giving away Ethiopian land.
The opposition forces
in the Diaspora have foiled all the attempts of the TPLF regime to mobilize and
collect money through selling bonds and direct contributions from the Diaspora.
Ethiopians living in Norway have also foiled the same attempts of the regime to
sell bonds and collect money in Norway. He concluded his speech by stating that
the issue of the dam can cause the fall of the TPLF regime and its current
confrontation with Egypt can create a dangerous condition and be harmful to
Ethiopia.
Following this, the
guest speaker responded to the several and various questions raised by the
participants and wide ranging discussions were held. Later on, the vice
chairman of the DCESON ato Daniel Abebe made s statement of declaration of
position and said that the DCESON condemns the repression and human rights
violations the TPLF is committing against the people of Ethiopia. He also
reiterated that the DCESON will continue to stand by and support Ginbot 7. He
thanked ato Bizuneh for coming and speaking to the participants.
The song of Ginbot 7
popular force was sung in the beginning and end of the meeting by the singers
and the participants were entertained by Ethiopian cultural music. Ethiopian
dishes prepared by the women`s section of the DCESON were also served during
the meeting. The whole meeting was led by ato Fikre Assefa. In the end, the
DCESON thanks all who contributed to the success of the meeting, came from the
other parts of Norway and members of the organization.
Victory to the people
of Ethiopia.
The DCESON.
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