Open Question to Fekade Shewakena
By: B. Kassayie
Ato Fekade,
Following your article of April 21, 2006- 'The statistics and the Ethiopian economy: Where is the beef?,' I asked Minister Sufian Ahmed to clarify the issues you have raised and provide information. The Mister responded to my question to which you responded with 'Mr. Minister: You answered the question by repeating the question', May 10, 2006.
What initiated my question is your suggestion that there is a discriminatory distribution of central government budget and foreign loan/aid in 2001 in Ethiopia. The weight and implication of such a suggestion is obvious and des not require anymore qualification. Hence, the significance rendered to it by a number of articles posted in several websites; e.g. Cooking up figures to sow discord among people, By MESHAT(PhD), DallolNews June 5, 2006. This article depicts a picture entirely opposite to that provided by you, suggests methodological flaws in your assessment and raises questions about your article. To my knowledge, you have not responded to this or any other article. I understand you have no obligation to do so. However, given your declared interest and commitment to Ethiopian unity, democracy and economic development, it is expected of you to either provide a substantiated response or come out clean, and admit you were misled by Marie-Anne Valvor article.
Regards
B. Kassayie
[Opinions in this article are solely that of the writer.]