Editor’s Note: As Ethiopians continue the struggle to win back the freedom they thought they got 41 years ago (1966 E.C.), we are witnessing the emergence of young but mature and patriotic leaders of the new generation. Such one leader is Engineer Yilkal Getnet of Semayawi party. Most of us have heard him and seen him in action in the dog it dog political struggle in Ethiopia today. Yilkal has shown wisdom, flexibility, creativity, and determination in leading his party against the onslaught of an ethno-fascist mafia clique on power in Ethiopia today.
TPLF has become the king without a kingdom for 23 years now. Can you imagine a king without a kingdom? There you have it! For practical purposes, the system TPLF has created in Ethiopia today is a kingdom. Functions, acts, and works like a kingdom. TPLF is an absolute dictator that rules absolutely.
Engineer Yilkal works in this environment of total dictatorship where not only his life but his ability to make a living is at stake. On top of torture and bullets, TPLF is now using hunger to punish democratic activists. It is firing government employees who happen to be members of the opposition working in the Ethiopian Airlines, State universities and others.
In an interview with current affairs paltalk room, Yilkal has outlined strategic and critical steps that the Ethiopian opposition should take if they want the struggle to get to a successful conclusion. He specially stressed the following measures as urgent and critical.
1) Support ESAT seriously as the only media our people have at this time to know what is going on with their country. The yearly fundraising is fine but it won’t cut it, he said. He mentioned about the sad situation of ESAT not getting at least 5000 subscribers who pay $20 a month. Given the kind of challenge ESAT is having to stay on air, this situation is very depressing. He urges people to think ESAT’s job from a strategic point of view and give $20 a month consistently until democracy becomes the rule of law in Ethiopia.
2) Need to combat TPLF strategy of punishing the families of opposition members with hunger and homelessness. There are also the families of those whose bread winners are imprisoned. They also need financial help. It is important to set up a Fund (we can call it the Ethiopian Democracy Fund) to support these victims of TPLF’s onslaught and ensure the continuity of the struggle.
Engineer Yilkal Interview with Current Affairs Paltatlk Room)
December 20, 2014