ABEBE GELLAW: COMPROMISING BIRTUKAN MIDIKSA

By Demeke Balcha

Abebe Gellaw has written a euphoric article posted by Ethiomedia in which he trumpets loud and afar that Birtukan Midiksa has been given a fellowship by the American National Endowment for Democracy (NED), an organization he hails and to which Birtukan also pays homage as she “accepts with humility and in the name of the Ethiopian people this honor”.

Leave the Ethiopian people alone! Abebe Gellaw was plucked from Europe and brought to the CIA training centre that is sometimes called Stanford University and now let loose on the Ethiopian opposition. He recently “got” 40,000 US dollars for ESAT and as recognition becomes chairman of the ESAT. Abebe serves US interest above and before any Ethiopian one. It is no wonder that he now praises NED for giving a scholarship to Birtukan who is thus going to be manipulated and controlled by the CIA and Washington to serve their interests in Ethiopia. What is NED? Here is what some knowledgeable Americans had to say:

“The National Endowment for Democracy is foreign policy loose cannon. Promoting democracy is a nebulous objective that can be manipulated to justify any whim of the special-interest groups--the Republican and Democratic parties, organized labor, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce--that control most of NED’s funds. As those groups execute their own foreign policies, they often work against American interests and meddle needlessly in the affairs of other countries, undermining the democratic movements NED was designed to assist. Moreover, the end of the Cold War has nullified any usefulness that such an organization might ever have had. There is no longer a rival superpower mounting an effective ideological challenge, and democracy is progressing remarkably well on its own.

NED, which also has a history of corruption and financial mismanagement, is superfluous at best and often destructive. Through the endowment, the American taxpayer has paid for special-interest groups to harass the duly elected governments of friendly countries, interfere in foreign elections, and foster the corruption of democratic movements”. (Barbara Cony).

Corruption of democratic movements and leaders-- this is the task of NED and of its agent Abebe Gellaw. NED, in the service of right wing interests in America, has been extensively criticized for its destructive meddling all over the world. Writing “The skinny on the National Endowment for Democracy”, Brendan I. Koerner noted:

“The most common complaint is that the NED's money only goes to support movements and politicians that fit into the United States' foreign-policy objectives, regardless of whether those who receive the money engage in undemocratic campaigns. Most recently, the left assailed the NED for its indirect support of Venezuelan groups that were active in attempts to overthrow democratically elected President Hugo Chavez”.  NED funds and trains opposition groups, leaders, journals (for example Khartoum Monitor),TV stations, etc with the aim of bringing these in line with American policy. Its recent implications in Egypt and Tunisia have also been criticized as an attempt of compromise national sovereignty and to put the people’s movement under American control. If Abebe Gellaw works for NED it is only to be expected as he is suspected of being an American “kitregna” but that Birtukan should be involved with such an organization raises many questions. There were in the past doubts that she was being primed and propagated by the foreign powers to give her prominence and to make her serve their interests. This suspicion is now being reinforced. Consider the scholarship given to Seye Abrha to go to Harvard for a year. Was he being pushed out of the way to make an American plan to replace Meles (if need be) by General Tsadkan more feasible and easy or was he being groomed by America itself? These are questions Ethiopian patriots should raise with seriousness now that the danger against Ethiopia has increased and plots are many to sabotage the struggle of the people.

If Birtukan is the genuine daughter of Ethiopia, she should not thank NED or feel honored by its offer but she should REJECT the fellowship offer and declare openly and firmly that she serves only Ethiopian interests. Ethiopians in the Diaspora should also condemn the “kitregna” Abebe Gellaw and all others who are working with foreign powers against the interest of Ethiopia.