Over 50,000 Ethiopians Staged Peacefully Protest Rally at Mesqel Square
Feb. 10, 2002
Today, over 50,000 Ethiopians gathered at Mesqel Square to protest the collaboration of Meles Zenawi's regime with the regime of Issayas Afeworki in Asmera and the U.N. Border Commission in making Ethiopia a landlocked country. The U.N. Border Commission in the Hague will make Ethiopia divided, landlocked, poor, weak and vulnerable, according to the protestors.
The Addis Abeba demonstration, which was organized by the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), started and ended peacefully. On Saturday, the state-owned media had attempted to scare away many residents of Addis Abeba by spreading a false rumor that the EDP didn't get permission to organize the demonstration and that the EDP officials are encouraging violence. EDP Chairman Dr. Admassu Gebeyehu sent a protest letter to Ethiopian TV and the other state-controled media asking them to stop spreading such false information. EDP had obtained a permission one week in advance of the demonstration.
EDP Secretary General Ato Lidetu Ayalew, who was interviewed by the Radio Voice of Ethiopian Unity (VEU) after the demonstration, said that he and his colleagues have been surprised by the high turn out. He said they were expecting a very low turn out due to the state media's intense propaganda effort against the demonstration.
VEU's correspondent in Addis Abeba reported that worried parents in the city were seen arguing with children about participating in the demonstration.
During the peaceful rally, a message of support from the United Ethiopian Civic Organizations (UECO) had been read.
In support of the Mesqel Square rally, the UECO is organizing a demonstration in Washington DC tomorrow starting at 12 Noon in front of the White House.
The UECO, Ethiopian Churches in the Washington DC area and other Ethiopian organizations will send a delegation to New York next Friday, February 15, to deliver petition letters, resolutions, statement and other prepare documents.
For more information:
Ethiopian Democratic Action League (TEGBAR)
Tel/Fax: 301 630 8685
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]