When Berhanu deceived us in 2005 it was shame on him, but now it would be shame on us.
By: Dilwenberu Nega
28th April 2009
No sooner had Ethiopians finished mourning the death of Ethiopia’s legendary singer, Dr. Tilahun Gessesse, than the foiling of a terrorist operation in Addis was made public. Here in London, this news had set the chattering class of the Ethiopian Diaspora into a panic mode with perspiring Andargatchew Tsiege seen spending hours hobnobbing with his cabbie colleagues in a north London pub frequently interrupted from the discussion he was having by calls from Behan Nega in America. The Ethiopian in London, on the other hand, was busy making telephone calls to dear and loved ones in Addis in an attempt to get a clearer picture of the true state of affairs back home. At the other extreme, the avatars of the politics of hate; you know who I mean: those who dread to hear good news flowing out or into Ethiopia, were planning on the way forward to “keep the momentum of the opposition on the right track.” Should they or shouldn’t they come out in support of the foiled terrorist operation which had all the hallmarks of the man who only four years ago goaded innocent Ethiopians into taking the law into their own hands – “The Petticoat Opposition Leader” (Berhanu Nega, so called because he quickly sought refuge at Mrs Ana Gomez’s boudoir when the going got tough for him post the 2005 National Election)
So, what did actually happen in Addis? This would be a matter that needs to be vivisected by gluing ourselves to ETV in the coming days. It is only by so doing that we are able to safe-guard ourselves from being jet-hosed with outright lies by you know who. On the bigger question of “Berhanugate”, however, there ought to be no muddle and fudge about him aiding and abetting the plotters of the terrorist operation to ensure that he bombed his way to power. This is not guess work but hard facts. We have heard his sabre-rattling declarations to overthrow Ethiopia’s democratically elected government, not to mention of course, his upmarket “Get an Ethiopian Patriot Certificate for only USD 500” blitz. Incidentally, those close to Berhanu Neganot only laugh at his cowardice but are at one in describing him as a houdini of political deceit.
Mind you smart-Alec Berhanu and fickle Andargachew are not that nincompoops to officially claim that they were behind the putsch for that would be self-incriminating. But we all know in our hearts of hearts, and we also know from our bitter experiences in 2005 during which money raised from such gullible Ethiopians, like my good-self, was used to catapult the now moribund Kinijit to power. Had the terrorist plan succeeded in bulldozing public buildings, maiming and killing innocent Ethiopians, the duo would have deafened our ears with their bravado.
Thank God for our Defence and Security Forces. They have proved to friends and foes alike that the committed and dedicated Ethiopian Defence Forces will not be party to the political pantomime of Ginbot 7 whose leaders are the puppets-on-a-string of Shabia. Nor would Ethiopians allow Berhanu and Andargachew to deceive them, for the second time, for that would be a shame on us and not them. Let me conclude, then, by quoting an inspiring saying of one of Britain’s great historians, Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” So good men of Ethiopia rise in defence of DEMOCRACY!