Numerous Ethiopians living in and around London gathered for a discussion relating to the problems of Kinijit, the weaning of Kinijit Support and the recent flare up of the Boarder problem with the Sudan.

The holding of the Forum is seen as the beginning of the breaking of the embargo that has been put on the wider community in the UK from discussing matters relating to political organisations, the plethora of problems facing Ethiopia, and the political confusion that has bedevilled the Diaspora in the last three years.

  Challenges and conjectures have been made at the meeting. One such challenge was that the Diaspora in the United Kingdom has contributed to the down turn and dampening of engagements against anti-human rights, anti-democracy and anti-Ethiopia forces in Ethiopia, of which the forerunner is the TPLF/EPRDF regime. Hence, the despondency of the large section of the Ethiopian community is considered to be a result of this conspiratorial and evil work undertaken by Woyane and its collaborators when the leaders of the organisation were thrown in to prison. 

When elements in the Diaspora declared that they are assuming the leadership of Kinijit both in Ethiopia and the Diaspora, on the pretext of ‘specially delegated power’, the division within Kinijit and its subsequent freefall ensued.  This was also interlinked to the dispersal of its solid support in the Diaspora. Some elements among the imprisoned leaders were promoted as heroes others where dubbed as not worthy despite the personal sacrifice they were paying as key members of the Kinijit leadership. 

As it has later been unravelled, it was all a political sea-saw with the objective of taking over the leadership without following the political due process for leadership changes.  A ‘bloodless coup’ was set in motion by some members against others but fell flat on its face very quickly.  The haphazard and viciously conducted campaign to wrench party leadership and subsequently power has confused so many, including the elderly, scholars, artists, activists, and lots of ordinary people in the Diaspora that love their county and people. That action has in effect resulted in reducing Kinijit, an elected and strongly supported opposition party, to organisational rubble of some half a dozen 5 and 10-man groups calling themselves parties and/or organizations few of these are threatening to emerge as cyber warriors in the Diaspora. 

The larger section that has stayed on the Kinijit course is facing tasks of mammoth proportions in rebuilding and consolidating the party.  Among the measures it is taking are the filing of a case in the High Court to regain the name Kinijit and the ‘V’ Party Sign used in the election of 2005.  The preparations for a general congress to be held in the capital Addis Ababa is at an advanced stage.  Some 750 delegates are expected to attend.  Few observers from the Diaspora would be invited to attend. Hopefully, this would put Kinijit back on the rails in the struggle for peace, human and democratic rights.  It is in this spirit of developments that the London discussion forum is revived and the gathering is determined to develop its work in promoting the interests and aspirations of the Ethiopian Diaspora in Britain and Europe. 

The work of bringing together the Ethiopian community in the UK that has been disillusioned by disruptive actions has been considered to be a first step.  In this the Forum has resolved that the actions of groups that continue to claim leadership and responsibility of Kinijit Support in the UK, when they don’t have a democratic mandate, need to be dealt with first.  Such groups that are bent in advancing parochial and minority interests are to be stopped in their trucks.  Legalities have been undermined.  The turfing out of elected officers of the Kinijit Support Organisation (KSO UK), should be tackled by the concerned people for a start.  Actions to be taken by the elected Chairman and Secretary should be supported by the wider community.  Concerted efforts should be made to secure all assets and finances that have been contributed and collected in the name and on behalf of Kinijit.  To this end, a working group has been set up both to explore ways of taming the unruly and conspiratorial group and to encourage and support the elected officers to take measures that counter the illegal actions of the pretender group.  The meeting believes that the two leading officers that have been illegally excluded from the leadership of the Support Organisation have a duty they need to discharge.  This is to reclaim the organisation that they have been responsible for and return it to the control of the wider membership and supporters.  

The group that is creating confusion and frustration in London is the brain child of known destructors and are operated to this day by their invisible hands.  Measures to be taken in this respect should, in the opinion of some, include progressing matters to the court of law.  Financial pledges have commenced for this purpose. 

The work of understanding the Kinijit prognosis would continue and a much more close follow up would be made on what is happening now and in the immediate future. 

The Boarder problem with the Sudan has been discussed with anguish.  New developments were being reported as the issue was under discussion.  The task force put together for this purpose has been assigned to progress immediate actions like writing protest letters to governments and international bodies concerned.  It is also charged with the task of organising a public discussion where people with broad understandings of the problem on the Ethio-Sudan boarder are to speak with the view of making the public aware of what is happening. 

This wider Form would be used to launch a larger working group that would be engaged in organizing protest demonstrations to expose the sub-regional movement working to undermine and weaken Ethiopia.  The role of the TPLF/EPRDF regime would also be critically upraised in relation to negotiations it has conducted that culminated with giving up Ethiopian land without the knowledge of its parliament and above all without consulting the Ethiopian people.  Ethiopians living in the affected areas are reported to be putting up a stiff resistance against the invasion forces of Sudan.  The meeting has called Diaspora Ethiopians to stand with our people for all what it takes.   

The Forum calls all Ethiopians and people of Ethiopian descent in the UK to join up in this desperate effort to save our country from elements that undermine its internal stability and external security.

Long live our Ethiopia

Ethiopians in Britain for a united Kinijit.                

The Forum Organisers can be contacted on:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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