Brave Arbegnoch!

Part One



Part Two



Source: EPPFOnline.org

VOA Interview with Ristey Mebrahtu - On Welkayt Tegede

Recently the Voice of America Amharic Service has given some attention to the burning issue of Welkayt Tegede by providing Mrs. Ristey Mebrahtu an opportunity to voice her opinion in Woizero Ristey Mebrahtu is a native Welkayt Tegede who has been a member/sympethizer of TPLF for a very long time. She currently resides in the United States (Washington D.C.) and is a frequent guest caller to the various ethiopian radio stations broadcasted in the washington D.C. area defending the brutal actions of TPLF. Moreover, she is closely associated to a few TPLF sympathizers such as Kahsay Tafese and Assfa Golla who reside in Columbus, Ohio and she also a close relationship to Ferede Yeshiwondim and Tsegaye Asimamaw (TPLF officials in Tigray).

A few yeas ago, when the TPLF issued its 50 page report of subduing the Diaspora, Ato Ferede and Ato Tsegaye visited the Welkayt Tegede community in Columbus, Ohio in an effort to fulfill the strategy of dividing this community. However, the community stood strong and challenged their divisive agenda with the exception of the usual suspects who are closely associated to Ristey and Azeb Mesfin/Golla (wife of the dictator in Addis).

The two cadres gave promises that if the Diaspora decided to invest in their community back they would be able receive investment incentives including free farm lands. Taking this promise literally few of their supporter sold-off all their assets in the United States and went back home to only find their hopes dashed and promises broken. When the cadres returned home they were both striped off their positions by TPLF officials who were upset by the promises they made to the natives in the Diaspora. Ato Ferede was the head of Kafta Humera wereda and Ato Tsegaye was head of Tigray Security Service.

In light of what happened to Ato Ferede and Ato Tsgaye their few supporters in the United States including Weizero Ristey were fumed and decided to pressure the TPLF to reinstate these two cadres to their positions by speaking ainst its actions towards the natives of Welkayt Tegede. However, not surprisingly the TPLF did not even bother to respond forcing Weizero Ristey to speak out against TPLF.

I am more or less satisfied with what she said in the two interviews she conducted with the VOA. She at least has used the opportunity to voice the grievances of the Welkayt Tegede people to the rest of Ethiopian people. I do not agree with her statement that the Welkayt Tegede people should be administered under the ANDM instead of TPLF for two reasons. First, TPLF/ANDM are one and the same - the change in political name is nothing but what the Ethiopians say "Gulicha bilewawet..." Second, neither she nor I have the authority to chose which political party should the people or the region be administered. Should the natives on the ground who are facing all the suffering for once have the opportunity to decide their choice in a democratic manner. (By the way, when I say natives I mean those who are the true bread of Welkayt Tegede and not the hundreds of thousands TPLF has transplanted in the region in the guise of "resettlement")

Comment on VOA Amharic Reporting:

As much as I am appreciative and thankful of the VOA Amharic service, I am disappointed in that they have not thoroughly vetted Weizero Ristey's background and the real issue/problems the people of Welkayt Tegede are having. VOA has twice interviewed Weizero Ristey identifying her as the Chairwoman of the Welkayt Tegede Community in Columbus Ohio. However, as I know there is only one association in Columbus, Ohio named "Cooperative Association of Welkayt Tegede Ethiopians in North America." This association is non-political and non-profit 501(c) organization aimed in tackling the social problems of the Diaspora community.

Meanwhile, there is another group that is loosely structured or organized aimed at addressing the political problems of Welkayt Tegede people. The group led which the VOA is reporting as led by weizero Ristey is nothing but a few people that propagate and push TPLF agenda and are not by any means inclusive of all Welkayt Tegede people in North America. She is not an elected representative of the community other than being a spokesperson to the few people she belongs to.

I am not suggesting that the VOA shouldn't interview her nor am I condemning Weizero Ristey from voicing her opinion. In fact I am glad with part of she had to say. We (the people of Welkayt Tegede) have never had such an outstanding opportuity in voicing the suffering of our people. However, the VOA should not recognize her as the chirwoman of the community - and the reason being that she is not a chairwoman of the any association she claims and is promoted as.

In fact efforts were made for the VOA to give the same opportunity to another group I discussed above who are wise and old enough to discuss the subject matter thoroughly. There are elderly people here in Columbus, Ohio that can precisely communicate the history of the Welkayt Tegede people. Instead of interviewing the same person over and over, the VOA should at least come over to Columbus, Ohio - speak with the people, learn their history and their grievances beforehand. If they can send a reporter to Ethiopia and end up being banned from reporting by the dictator in Addis, I don't see any reason why they can make a 45 minute flight to Columbus, OH and present a factual information that is directly of interest to the Ethiopian audience.

I hope that the VOA would give us another chance to expand the discussion and voice the suffering of our people.

I will try to find the links for the interviews and post them here once I find it. If you do find the link please forward it to me.