By Andent Tesfaye

Our heroes of Ethiopian political prisoners and journalists showed compassion in their peaceful struggle. They recognized the causes of suffering of Ethiopian people under the ethno-centric TPLF government. They spoke, wrote and express their thoughts for good of the country within the frame work of the constitution. They are truly Ethiopian dissidents and a freedom brigade in fighting this formidable monster regime to alleviate the repression. Let me quote Mr. Mwenda a managing editor of The Independent, a news weekly from Uganda – "The government can jail me or even kill me, but it cannot jail or kill the values and ideas for which we stand, we are standing on the right side of history, defending freedom, liberty, and democracy at any cost.” The voices from Kaliti prison are echoing the same compassionate feeling. These people took themselves to serious task to bring about social justice and equality for all Ethiopians. In 2005 and early on, the police and the Agaize sadistic army were mobilized in arbitrary round up the demonstrators, opposition political leaders, human rights activist and Journalist. Their compatriots were shot in mass, tortured in manner hard to express in words, some have already exiled to foreign land.  As this repression continue, it will result in sparking popular uprising that already have informal alliance with middle class of public employees, teachers, workers, students and professionals. On international level, the success of Arabs spring and a firm and consistent the Diaspora struggle for freedom, liberties raises hope and aspiration to acquire a democratic regime change.

As we know, Meles is listed as one of the World’s Worst Dictators in Africa. His regime targeted these compatriots for incarceration in state prison in violation of their constitution rights.  They are experiencing the most traumatic situation in their solitary confinement. Although they are planting the seed of change, it might take time to help to grow into movement of change; until then we in Diaspora shall stand up in unity as one voice to get their freedom. Said the adage "divided we fall and united we triumph” is an important message.  The regime underlined agenda clearly is to divide and rule as means to stay in power. To this date, the ethnic centric TPLF regime shows no signs allowing people to exercise the universal democratic rights. In fact, we witnessed that the regime fears its own shadow and responded by killing, jailing the opposition groups, journals, civic activist etc.

Many people including naïve citizen who do not understand or underestimate the regime ethnic based agenda are upset by the regime dictatorial behavior. Naïve citizens shall reassess their indifference position as their right could be violated at any time, and shall actively participate in any form to sustain the movement.

Those who have already embraced Article 39 and jumped on ethnic based bandwagon, they may benefited temporarily by raping national wealth and by turning a blind eye to corruption. They are simply accomplice of a tyrant regime and remain in the enemy camp.

Voices from Kalitii have called us to create unity to fight against oppression. They are also sending a message to the regime, the death of brutal dictator in Libya inspire and strengthen our movement for change. Clinging to power by force and jailing and crushing the critics will result to have a similar fate as seen in Libya. The 42 years dictatorial regime crumbled and the dictator begged to spare his life, but it was too late.