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The conspiracy that was projected to hit the forces of unity by denying access to the Ethiopian community in Canada has been busted in the hoarfrost of the arctic way over the cold deserts of Canada thanks to the merits of modern technology. Hailu Shawl and et al though forbidden visa necessary to enter Canada have successfully entered under duress of technology, met their fellow-Ethiopians at a remarkable town hall meeting in Toronto, delivered their speeches and returned in peace and victory to where they were. Alas! Democracy is supported by technology!
When images of Shawl and his companions appeared in the screen of a videoconference apparatus women in the hall expressed their joy by ellillta, as if the guests were there in person. Men jumped with delight continuously clapping and refusing to seat for minuets and minuets! The three hundred audiences most of whom were Ethiopian/Canadians looked like the three hundred Spartans who refused to retreat until they kill or die. They stood still clapping and shouting slogans, singing songs of freedom and applauding the bravery of their leaders whose images was shimmering in the screen. The patriotic anthem, “Anbesaw Agesa” kept on playing again and again and the audiences utterly refused to seat. While this was going on a friend in the hall called me to say, “We need a squad of police officers from LAPD to force the three hundred audiences to seat. They are all taken with enthusiasm, and pleasure while seeing the image of their leaders to whom Canadian Immigration Officials denied entry visa;” he said, cracking a jock. I was following the ceremony via a pal talk assisted by another friend in the hall as I received the call. “ He is here, he is here! He doesn’t need their damn visa!” the caller shouted through the wireless phone driven with inconceivable pleasure.
“Pleasure!” did I say “pleasure?” What is “pleasure” for suppressors and what is it for democrats? According to the renowned anthropologist, Lionel Tiger, evolution has established the biological mechanisms of pleasure. Thus for democrats pleasure is natural. It is a part of the human nature that the pursuit for pleasure is inviolable. For tyrants who rule by force “pleasure” is “impermissible.” For them pleasure is the sufferance of human beings. “In my opinion’ says, Lionel Tiger, “ new findings and perceptions about the role of pleasure in human physiology and social life suggests that its censors are in fact violating a law of nature. Sensual and aesthetic freedom may be as much a political concern as freedom of speech and of political endeavor.” This means “pleasure” as an entity of human rights such as those agreed on the Geneva Convention should be an addendum to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmed by the United Nations. To this effect concludes, Tiger, “ An emerging agenda of human rights must expand to include pleasure more explicitly than heretofore. There is new evidence. Therefore there have to be new response.”
What the immigration officials are violating in the case of refusing visas to the leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy/CUD/Kinijit leaders is not only the universally accepted freedom of movement as mentioned in the Universal Declaration of the United Nations and as stated in the Geneva Convention but also the “pleasure” of their citizens, Ethiopian/Canadians. This might be crazy for offenders of democracy but for democrats, it is a substantial human right violation.
What happened in Toronto Kinijit Support Association’s Town Hall meeting is a new phenomenon that illustrated that thanks to modern technology “nothing is impossible!” But what more venerable is the gut and the stamina that the organizers demonstrated during this time of implausible test to one’s patience and determination. The organizers never thought that this would happen in a country of advanced democracy. Not in Canada! It was a sudden fall of the sky on to them! But with the Ethiopian blood with them blessed with unparalleled patience, and wisdom,” they proceeded with their program. They succeeded. Their success however, they say, will not violate their right to justice. An activist with a nickname Mr. X 11 says that ‘we shall not retreat from bringing the offenders to justice, though we dumped the conspiracy down into the hoarfrost.” Ethiopian Lawyers vow that they cannot wait to see that justice is served in response to this devilish conspiracy.Investigating the case in the eyes of politics, it is not surprising that western nations play such ridicules games against Ethiopian Nationalist Leaders for a number of reasons. One reason is that they brand nationalist leaders difficult for Westerners to deal with. In other words, they (the leaders) do not give up their national interest as easy as say for example as the BBs (Berhanu Nega and Bertukan Medeksa). Thus for the BBs and their satellites Canada is a home to enjoy! This has been demonstrated only a few months ago when the BBs and their tails such as Debebe Eshetu comfortably stayed in Canada conducting meetings and selling and purchasing all sort of things. Contrary to the BBs Hailu Shawl and Dr. Taye Wolde Semayat are primarily branded nationalists in the list of the Westerners. So, what do they get from such persons as Hailu and Taye! Nothing! No purchase! No Sales! So, “no visa!”Just a few minutes ago, before I started doodling this article I had a call from a friend who incidentally raised this topic of denial of entry visa for the two gentlemen. Having discussed the issue for a while we both agreed that the measure that the Canadians took was sad. But my friend did not stop there, he added to say that “ bitcha tinish diplomacy bichemerubte teru nebere” meaning, “They had better added some kind of diplomacy to their effort.” What kind of diplomacy could they add to their request of entry visa; I really don’t understand! These ferenjees hate nationalists! Particularly “Ethiopian” nationalists. I remember a British Journalist working for BBC in Addis Ababa in the early 1990s who was always getting mad as she looked at Professor Asrat Woldeyes. “Asrat is a difficult person.” she used to mumble and grumble. Last year the American Embassy in Addis Ababa delayed the issuance of entry visa to Eng. Hailu for a long time thus allowing excuses for the BBs to ran away to the U.S. without Hailu. Looks like intentionally planned for a layman like me but maybe different for sophisticated politicians. My friends, we are in trouble. Our country is under siege. A tyrant supported by the Bush administration is ruling us by force. The meanings of American democracy have become too many to identify; one meaning for Iraq, another for Nicaragua, another for Egypt and another for Israel. What is good for one seems no good for another. For Ethiopia, “no democracy” seems the rule of the game. We could not prevail democracy in our society because the Bush Government abroad supports the tyrant at home. So, what is better? We cannot accuse the Bush administration and bring it to justice in the Hague for helping the enemy of democracy the way Charles Taylor is done for genocide. Our hope is on the democrats living in the United States. In this regard, we expect democrats to pressurize the administration. As Senator Obama said the U.S need to undergo a change. It needs a change not only in the beaurocracy but in policy too. It needs a policy that recognizes the fact that the U.S. cannot live alone and all by itself demolishing the rest of the world in order to sustain its national interest. In the mean time we would like the world to know that we are not dependant and we have never been dependant on outside forces through out our history. We are only part of the world that live together in commonwealth sharing mutual benefit with other nations. Thinking out of this box we are sure the struggle we wage against tyranny will soon be glorious. Upon the sacrifice of its dear children, Ethiopia shall prevail!
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