Ethiopians in Transformation: Becoming People of Action!

(Part I of a report on the Ethiopian movement for peace, justice and freedom in Europe)
July 14, 2007.
“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy
honors God.”
Proverbs 14:31
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In May, I received an invitation from Ana Gomes, the EU Chief Election Observer of the 2005 Ethiopian
National Election to speak at the 13th Session of the African-Caribbean-Pacific- European Union (ACPEU)
Joint Parliamentarian Assembly that would be held in Wiesbaden, Germany, from June 25 to 28.
Ana Gomes told me that it would be a very strategic meeting where approximately 200 parliamentarians
from Africa, the Caribbean Islands, the Pacific Islands and from the European Union would be
represented. She invited me to speak to the group at a general session about human rights and injustice in
Ethiopia, what she believed would be an excellent opportunity because most of the participants would be
coming from Africa. She indicated that the Ethiopian Speaker of the House of Parliament, Tesohme Toga
would be there, along with some others from 179 countries, including the Ethiopian Ambassador to the
European Union, Berhane G. Kirstos.
She said that even though she could speak about the crisis of democracy and human rights problems in
Ethiopia herself, it would have more impact for someone else to address them as an Ethiopian. The
previous year, she explained, someone from Zimbabwe had addressed the assembly regarding the human
rights abuses in that country.
The main topics to be covered at the assembly would include the Millennium Development goals, good
governance, transparency and accountability in relation to the exploitation of natural resources in African,
Caribbean and Pacific countries and human rights and conflicts—such as in Darfur. Other topics would
include HIV, property eradication, the migration of the skilled workers from their respective native
countries and its impact on the country’s national development.
I told her I would come if we could find funding for the travel expenses. We then started searching for
funding. We had sent a letter and word out to the Ethiopian community, seeking funds for the European
trip. The letter was even posted on some of the major websites, such as Ethio-media, but the response was
very disappointing as it resulted in less than $600 being given. However, Ana kept calling and urging me
to come. After a number of Ethiopians in Europe had attempted to find funding without success and when
the meeting was only a few days away, it appeared there was no real prospect of going. In order to get to
the meeting on time, I would have to leave no later than June 23rd. However, by June 22nd, it was obvious
that there was no chance of going, but little did I know, God had a different plan!