Freedom of expression under threat

No one can consistently point a finger at others all the time. This does by no means mean shutting up when we see serious injustices done to our

fellow human beings. Often powerful states do everything except the obvious. When their interests are at stake they contradict their own constitution openly. The witch hunt against the wikiLeaks is a serious self contradiction in Western democracy. I grant that Sweden is one of the most democratic countries in the world but the manner in which accusation were made there against the man running wikiLeals grates on me. I was also dismayed to see how difficult it was to get him released on bail in Britain at first. In a nutshell it was a shameful story. Those ordinary people and the celebrities who stood up to defend the rights of the wikiLeaks and its freedom have done a great job and deserve great respect. Without such people the world is a dreary place. From the bottom of my heart I say to them all well done and thank you. Still we have to wait and see what impact all the leaked cables make on the foreign policies of the countries involved.

The bloody emperors as well as the modern dictators of Ethiopia have been most of the time spared criticism by Western regimes and media . Mengistu Haile Mariam who destroyed a generation of our youth did not have to answer for his crimes. He is writing a book in defense of his crimes. Do the peoples of Ethiopia deserve this treatment all along? One day when they wake up from their bad dreams, from the politics of divide and rule, when they can challenge their marionette and puppet political elites, they will tell their own stories and celebrate together a new era. Till then they will remain manoeuvrable. It is no wonder that Meles Zenawi, in this situation, feels emboldened to lecture his benefactors in the West on democracy. He is trying to have his cake and eat it too. He calls all his opponents without exception names with his head held high. The game is worth the candle while it continues.

Most of us fed up with the political conditions in Ethiopia would like that those wikiLeaks cables concerning our region will hit the policy makers especially in the US and Britain where it hurts, so that they will be forced to more reflection making them listen to the needs of ordinary peoples in the empire-state of Ethiopia and elsewhere. I do not like to talk in hints. As I see Christmas celebration all around me and the approaching new year I know that the great majority of the peoples of Ethiopia under the heel of autocrats and military dictators have most of the time little to celebrate with real joy and without fear. In this context I make no bones about my views concerning the misuse of religion and the calendar worldwide to create impressions that serve mainly the powerful and the mighty. Nevertheless for those who are devoted to the living beings life is always a celebration. I wish happiness to all of you.

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