The unraveling of Reporter newspaper and its owner in the past few weeks is dismaying and pitiful to say the least.  Ato Amare Aregawi has started a one sided personal quarrel with Sheik Mohammed Al Amoudi, that some may attribute to jealousy born out of the sheik's enormous success. Why else would the Reporter belittle the Sheik's impressive business achievements in Ethiopia as a mere "investment bederete"?  

Recently, the Reporter invoked the Martyrs' name to buttress Ato Amare's petty beef with the sheik. The question should then be asked of Ato Amare, what has he done for the martyrs or their living families to invoke their names? Let him give us details of the philanthropic work he's been engaged in since he became a successful media mogul, thanks in large part to the sacrifices of the martyrs that ushered in, among other things, private press Ato Amare took full advantage of.  It is noteworthy to mention that during April 2005's historical return of the Axum Obelisk, every newspaper in Addis Ababa, including those nasty anarchist tabloids, covered the story EXCEPT THE REPORTER. Not even a brief passage did the Reporter reserve for the momentous occasion. Many believe the paper deliberately chose not to report it out of malice. This is something people ought to keep in mind when reading the Reporter's self serving invocation of the martyrs' name. 

Ato Amare Aregawi has every right to support or oppose the government, cover stories he deems worth covering LAWFULLY. It is his constitutional right. What we are witnessing as of late is, however, Ato Amare's ever gigantic ego getting in the way of reporting the news in a fair and balanced way. Ato Amare Aregawi is using his newspaper to assault the Sheik's character and his business interests.  

I urge Ato Amare Aregawi to step back from the brinks and restore whatever little is left of his paper's credibility and his own integrity.  I would like to also take this opportunity to advise the good sheik not to give into Ato Amare's unwarranted provocations. He is much bigger than that.
 

Dereje M