Jimma Times – In a statement to local journalists, Lidetu Ayalew of the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) officially declared his full support to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) party over the opposition parties in the country.
Lidetu, who was once a leading official of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) opposition party, has often been accused of breaking apart the CUD from the inside and working for Meles in the name of an opposition figure. After his clash with most of the other CUD leaders since 2005, Lidetu has went ahead to develop his EDP group and prepare for the 2010 election.
During the week, Lidetu repeatedly denounced peaceful opposition parties as extremists while labeling the EPRDF ruling party as a “moderate” compared to the opposition. Lidetu’s recent aggressive attacks on the opposition has surprised many observers, including Ethiopians who expected Lidetu to recover his image damaged four years ago.
Meanwhile, Lidetu Ayalew has reportedly condemned the Obama administration’s Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Jonnie Carson, after their last dialogue with the opposition in Addis Ababa. Several representatives of the Unites States government held a meeting with leaders of the Forum (Medrek) for Democratic Dialogue (FDD) opposition coalition, which included Engineer Gezachew Shiferaw of the Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ), Dr. Merera Gudina of the Oromo People’s Congress (OPC), Bulcha Demeksa of Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM) and independent officials Dr. Negasso Gidada and former Defense Minister Siye Abraha. They discussed about challenges for democracy in Ethiopia, the 2010 election, human rights issues and the case of Judge Birtukan Mideksa. However, according to FDD members, Lidetu Ayalew repeatedly tried to disturb the discussions between American government officials and the FDD officials. Lidetu criticized embassy officials for ignoring his EDP and he accused the FDD opposition coalition of allegedly being undemocratic.
Lidetu also criticized Oromo opposition leaders in Ethiopia’s parliament. Recently the OFDM leader Bulcha Demeksa has said Lidetu’s party is not a real opposition group since it always attacks opposition parties. Most Ethiopians similarly ask why Lidetu tries to divide the opposition based on minor ideological points that should be decided on by people’s vote while the country remains in desperate conditions in which basic democratic institutions are lacking; the court, military and election board are not independent. Over the last few months only, several opposition parties have revealed that their offices continue to get closed, their members harassed or imprisoned. Particularly, legal and peaceful Oromo opposition groups face the most harassment in the country due to their support base being in the rural away from the view of embassies, where government forces routinely persecute dissidents with impunity. However, in his latest statements, Lidetu again accused the Oromo opposition for allegedly being radical by seeking self-determination and democracy for Oromo people. He added that self-determination for Oromos hurts Ethiopian unity. Lidetu declared that he prefers Meles Zenawi’s OPDO sub-party of the EPRDF ruling party over the Oromo opposition groups.
Opposition Boycott
Due to the growing human rights crisis in the country for opposition groups and their supporters, most opposition leaders have increasingly hinted a boycott for 2010, finding it too hard to participate in an election with the current worsening conditions. During the last few years, a small gathering of over two opposition supporters in the rural usually leads to government crackdown and sudden arrests, while the 2005 post-election demonstrations have also ended in a bloodshed with security forces killing 193 unarmed protestors. Because of this abysmal government record, some peaceful opposition leaders are increasingly discouraged and concerned about potentially putting their members in harms way in 2010 since the military is still controlled by the ruling party. Dr. Negasso Gidada added that the Meles government is worse compared to Emperor Haile Selassie I government, which did not massacre peacefully protesting civilians as the current government did in 2005.
According to JT sources, the Meles government has been opening space for Lidetu’s EDP and for another pro-government CUD faction led by the relatively unknown Ayele Chamiso, in case real opposition parties do boycott the 2010 election. Recently, the government allowed the EDP to hold conferences around the country and regularly offered the state-run lone television channel, ETV, for the pro-government CUD faction and Lidetu’s EDP.
Despite several promises, critics do not expect the Obama administration to make any change in American policy toward Ethiopia. Many observers expect the EPRDF ruling party and pro-government groups like EDP to dominate the composition of the 2011 post-election parliament, potentially leading to a de facto one-party parliament for the first time in nearly a decade.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Ledetu eko … new! Gebachehu? Hmmm I have said enough. Semi joro yalew yesema!!!
July 13th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Ledetu Ye woyane feyael kkkk
July 13th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Ethioforum should moderate irresponsible and senseless comments made by the likes of wey neddo. That is non sense and shows how wey neddo is skull head.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Lidetu has full right to say what he feel as a person. We should not worry about him. But the comments made by wey neddo is very immature. We hate tigraian because of Meles? we gate wolloye because of Lidetu? Sorry wey nedo
July 13th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Lidetu is a Tigrian orgin that’s why he is working with Woyanne. Lasta, Agew are more related to Tigray than Amara. He is doing this business.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Lidetu is trusted opposion leader(ታማኝ ተቃዋሚ)
July 13th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I only admire Hailu Shawel ( AEUP Party) who already declared No election before the 8 Preconditions of ethiopian people are implemented. basta!! Read details on www.kaeup.com
July 13th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
moderator: I dont think you did your duty. Wey nedo should be abandoned. this is not fee speech. this is hate comment and empty headness.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
You guys talk a lot a bout Ledetu. To tell you the truth you don’t not nothing about what’s going on there. You hate Ledetu because he knows the way how Ethipian’s get there freedom from any undemocrate actorts. He might make mistake here and there but accusing Ledetu as Woyane is just a white lie. Find the truth and let us know.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I think he has already lost it, he should go to Amanuel hospital. He can’t go back to lalibela as he would be asked tor return the stolen tokens from the church, and he has to hide in oromo land.. how can he handle fighting with the oromos as well?
July 13th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
ledtu ayalew akatary hodam fiker ayawkem .
no one truset this ledetu akatry you supprt very will no body give you atention.hodam hodam hodam fersam.
July 13th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I hate to say it it but Lidetu is absolutely correct. The main reason Ethiopians despise woyane is its ethnic policies but sadly many in the opposition try to challenge woyane based on the same 15th century mentality. They think they are serving their ethnic best by presenting individual ethnic miseries as opposed to providing a concerete Ethiopian solution for all Ethiopians to foreign gov. This by sometimes conflicting stories by itself is very confusing for the foreign diplomats and only prolonged the misery for all. So tell me why TPLF, OPDO, ANDM, south organs in EPRDF should be different from those oppositions busy trying to protect their individual Oromo, Amhara, South, etc ethnic? Nothing! In fact those within EPRDF have become increasingly moderate compared to racist orgns in the opposition…..Ethiopian needs two or a maximum of three orgns that represent all including Tigray and Afar in the north to Oromo and others in the south.
July 13th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
ዎይ ነዶ ምን እንለዳለ አልገባኝም?
July 13th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I am fed up of talking about this banda. Lidetu, Kihdetu, Wushetu, Wurdetu, Yetabatu is a dead man walking on the corridors of TPLF or Woyane Madbet (Kushina). Since 2005 and before that too, he was and still is a paid TPLF agent, but before the next General Election, and believe it or not too, he would officially join them and become one of the EPRDF thugs. Yes, EDP will officially join the coalition of EPRDF. Therefore, all what we can do not to cry about it but to urge the opposition parties to unite and defeat the hell out of them. Then, God willing, we would see Lidetu Kidetu in exile somewhere in Africa or the west scratching his small balls and smelly bum as unemployed man who has no friends in this world. He must be destroyed before he becomes one of TPLF’s Ministers to slaughter the nation. Period!
July 13th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Mr. Wey nedo:
Could I ask a clarification from your goodselves. what does “Woloye new” mean.
I guess TPLF did not annex Lasta to Tigrai as they snatched QUARM and ALMATTA from Wollo.
The Wolloye is aware about this annexation and are awaiting time for a vengeful act to retrieve their land.
Lasta is agaw and part of wollo and yet not taken by TPLF.
The saying goes ” Agew libu zetegn, sementun debeko andun achawetegn”. It means an Agew has nine heart he hides the rest but talks to me with one. Hence, Lidetu as an Agew may not speak his heart of hearts and as a result he is renown for his sinister acts. I know this is a generalized statement and I know Lidetu can not represent an Agew or a Wolleye. Excuse my brainstorming.
But there is one bull among the many and he is one of in the millions. Lidetu is an outcast even the EPRDF knows who he is.
Let “Wey nedo” clarify on this
Chemeda Takei
Borena, Wollo
July 13th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
thankyou for this news. finally he can start being who he is deep inside, a woyane.
July 13th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Lidetu is the best and the brightest politician the country has ever produced; no wonder uninformed fellow Ethiopians could not grasp his thinking power.
July 13th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Forget Lidetu and other slaves such as Abadula Gemeda, Teshome Toga, Addisu Legesse and Kuma Demekssa. All these and a bunch of others are literary the modern slaves that needed to be freed from the Weyanne’s yoke. When we talk about them we should talk about them as slaves. There is nothing more or less about them.
July 13th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
ልደቱ ጎበዝ ተቃዋሚ ነው.ፓርላማ መግባቱ እውስት ሁኖ መታገል መምራቱ.
July 13th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
The EPLF also opposed the TPLF manifesto for independence on the grounds that Tigrai was an inegral part of Ethiopia and there was no justification for secession from Ethiopia. At this time, the EPLF was reluctant to support separatist movements in Ethiopia, not just as a matter of princople but for various other motives as well… [more excerpts will be posted later
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10314
July 13th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
We all know who lidetu or kehedtu is? We saw him in the 2005 election and we are not supposed to spend our time on this jerk.
He is digging his own grave by himself and it is only a matter of time for all the enemies of Mother Ethiopia. Justice will be justified.
July 13th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Lidetu Ayalew hodam is working under cover to spy on ethiopian oppostion. He is weyane
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10314
July 13th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
semlove, i read your comment, i think you are Dr, mulalamhard supporter of Lidetu.she belive Lidetu like a God if she belive on God.belive or
not Lidetu is under cover weyane supporter at the begginning when he was Lasta. i remebered Lidetu insult TPLf any where and any place when he was simple memeber of AAUo, that is way immedataly get puppic attention. on the bad time for TPLf he stand beside TPLF. motte for LIdetu(Kidetu) and TPLF.we don’t want waste time for this banda .
July 14th, 2009 at 2:58 am
I hope you’ll post this comment as jimma times have decided not to it.
Lidetu didn’t state this there is no source to this information. There goes jimma times credibility. As long as you don’t state your source of information this is pure fabrication. This is not in defence of the gentleman but for the sake of honesty and credibility. I’m sure Lidetu can defend himself. What he has challenged you guys on is Ethiopianism against Oromo(ianism). Where ever he goes he has been making it clear where the difference is when it comes to him and Dr.Negasso on identity question. I’m surprised pro-Ethiopian websites like EMF are willing to post this “news” without checking the credibility. There is more to this news than just lashing out on Lidetu. Ethiopianism can’t be a compromise or what has EMF has to say?
July 14th, 2009 at 6:33 am
Jimma Times! ልደቱ አያሌው ሙሉ በሙሉ የወያኔ አባል መሆኑ የታወቀው በ2005(እ.አውሮፓ አቆጣጠር) ነውና: ይልቁንስ ሌሎቹን የወያኔ ተለጣፊ ሆዳሞችን ማጋለጥና ለትግላችን መንገዱን መጥረግ ይገባናል እላለሁ::
ድል ለኢትዮጵያ ህዝብ!!!
July 14th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Just forget ledetu once and for always we dont have no time to talk about this sold out woyanne stooges he may sometimes commit suicide cos of the guilty concious inside his belly or damaged brain
July 14th, 2009 at 9:37 am
ልደቱ እኮ ጥሩ መዝናኛችን ሆኗል:: እሱና ፓርቲው የሚወስዱአቸው አቋሞች ያዝናኑኛል::በሚቀጥለው መግለጨው ምን አይነት የእብደት ምልክት(symptom) ያሳይ ይሆናል ብዬ በጉጉት ነው የምጠብቀው::ፖለቲከኞች ሲያብዱ እንዴት እነደሚያደርጋቸው ጥሩ መማሪያ አግኝተናል:: ልደቱ ስልጣን ቢይዝ እንደ መንግስቱ …በጩቤ ብቻ አይደለም የሚወጋን እንደ መለስ አጋዚ ጦር የሚልክና ግንባራችንን በጥይት የሚለን ቆዳችንን ገፎ ነበር ካባ የሚያደርገው::በዛ ላይ ወጣት መሆኑን አትርሱ እድሜ ከሰጠው ግማሽ ክፍለ ዘመን ነው በአናታችን ላይ ለመቀመጥ ያሚያስበው::ነገር ግን ዘመን ደጉ እንደዚህ ያሉ ነቀርሳዎች ሲልጣን ሳይዙ መጋለጥ ችለዋል::ማንኛውም የተቃዋሚ መሪዎች ከህዝብ ጥቅም የራሳቸውን የስልጣን ጥም ሲያስቀድሙ መጋለጥ ያለባቸው::
July 14th, 2009 at 10:20 am
))))))))))))))))Where do you want to go???…((((((((((((((((((((
Ledetu,Ledetu,Ledetu…
I can see his “mottu!”(death).
like sadam
To be hanged- waiting a time.
By the way:where does he want to go when” weyanne” is dead??
I don’t need his answer.I just want to say one thing:
I is no use telling politicians to go to hell-they are trying to build it for us
now.I can always tell when politicians are lying-their lips move,like lebaw Ledetu .
July 14th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Dear Yigermal,
Antem Tigermaleh Asmesay Yigermal? You must be Yared Hailemeskel: the die hard and baptised EDP/TPLF cadre who is lurking on Ethiopians forum like a poisoned rat denying everything, accusing, defaming and insulting almost everyone under the sun, adoring and worshiping Lidetu as his Almighty God and saviour. In my opinion, EMF did not claim to have written that article or report but posted it with a reference. Therefore, if the one refered too did not complain that was a false reference and did not ask EMF to remove it from its site, it must have been accepted as truth and have taken the responsibility. So, why bark at EMF for informing the public on behalf of Jumma Times, if they were frightened Woyane to do so on their site? I think you barked on the wrong tree. As for Lidetu, don’t go far buddy boy, but just visit his promoting and propaganda site called Aiga that he shares with Woyane. He is bashing all opposition like the so-called Dr Teketel Hailemariam (THM) who is another TPLF cadre and terrorising the Ethiopian Forum with the likes of Yared Hailemeskel, and Kelemu Smeneh. Now, he is even asking the previous Ethiopian President Dr Negasso Gidada to apologize to him. His eg-shaped skull or head is becoming bigger than his entire body. Therefore, don’t try to fool the public here because the truth about Lidetu are known after the last election. He is a Tigrian who was born in Wollo and a 100% Woyane from the beginning to the end. Period! This message is also directed to all Lidetu supporters hereand elsewhere. Last but not least, thank you EMF for the report but you forgot one thing. The cornered rat photo of Lidetu. A picture tells a thousand words.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I see how many of you are immature and see only one side. Lidetu is absolutely free to choose his way. don’t try to put your own watermelon head upon some body. matured guys always see things from many perspective. I swear by the way I am not his supporter, neither do I go for EPRDF, But the way most of you act made me leave this note for you. Please learn how to act. Set on some thing valuable your your talents and energy. By the way Lidetu is the better than of all those betrayers like, Nega, and the so called “Engineers”, ምን ያደርጋል ከፈጣሪ ካልተጫኑ ዲግሪ መጫን መሪ መሆን ማለት አይደለም:: ሃዴ /Hadie.
July 14th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Hagos’s comment belongs ,I guess, to Almaz. It is possible to say ‘I have lack of understanding’. But, I understand that u are not the only but as I know more diasporeas are good at core concepts of class’s theories. How ever, in ‘were’ verification no challenging.’Deki Adwa’ are responsible for challenging ideas. Lib equa alachew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 14th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Dea Hadie or Hadgi, Hahahahaha!
Hadie, no amount of pretending and sounding sane could make you fool us at all. You exposed yourself as a Woyane and EDP cadre in your last two lines. Hahahahaha! We were talking about Lidetu the banda not about Birhanu Nega or Engineer Hailu you daft? What a moron and a fool you are really? Get lost!
July 14th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I agree with Yigermal on this one, jimma times just sank very low. Facts should talk and not lies. At some stage we have to challenge all the “news”. Ethiopiansim will always stand firm against any ethnic identity. I didn’t really get what a certain kebede wrote here. Read what Yigermal wrote properly.
Tazabe
July 14th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Thanks Yigermal for raising the issue of credibility of the ”news”. As you have aptly put it, Jimma Times has no any source for the info. It looks it’s just an attempt to respond to the recent article by Ato Lidetu regarding Dr Negasso. However, the writing has no relevance to the issues raised by Ato Lidetu, but pure fabrications to bash Lidetu in the usual propaganda line. Because the website is pro-Oromo, it is interested only to come to the side of the former president on the basis of ethnicity. Do not be amazed either by EMF’s action to post the article here without the due journalistic concern with its factual basis because; this site is as always consistent with its anti-Lidetu posture. If you expect any sound argument here, I am afraid you don’t find many.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
No Election in Ethiopia
Let TPLF declare a win without any run
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10292
July 15th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
This Lidetu’s “EDP” Why not join woyane’s “EPRDF” ???????????
July 16th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Shame on all morons here . Lidetu is a here still you are eating his name instead of Meles . I will support Lidetu just because of you nonsense people. He is not doing politics to spend his pension tíme . You will change Woyane through Birhanu who run after esayias to get a male throuser. because he cant fire a gun Even Birhanu admited that he can get heros only from lasta .
Gen. Tefera Mammo , x.gen.Asamnew Tsege are from Lasta they are nebhours of Lidetu kkkkkkkkkkkkk not fro Silte shame.
Lidetu isyour king that is why you insult him but he will get more and more support while you and your party getting smaller and smaller.
Prof mesfin is banned from Udj and other 20 who are remainin g are members of parliament kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
You are the loo
July 16th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
woyane is 100 % better than Gizachew and Birhanu .Both are nonsense and selfish power and mony mogners
Birhanu is Gurage that is clear he loves money and he made money with woyane .Now he gathers mony from fool diaspora and gi8ve to Esaiyas to beg to fight to Meles
July 16th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
UDJ is divided in to 3 groups
Prof. Mesfin and other 20 leaders are banned from UDJ
Who split them ? It should be the spirit of Lidetu
congratulations UDJ supporters
The gathering of morons
July 16th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Leba hulu Gedel Gibu moderators
God is paying to Lidetu
He will winn because he has the truth
July 16th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The good thing is we know who are you the so called moderators
Time will pay for you Leba wshetamoch
July 16th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Yematafru degnetu menemenachu
Thanks GOD
YOU WILL DISSOLVE UP TO THE END
July 16th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
lET GOD DIVIDE YOU UNTIL THE DEATH OF EVERY ONE OF YOU
July 16th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
lIDETU IS A WINNER
July 16th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
bIRHANU IS LEBA GURAGE GENZEB LEKAMI YE WOYANE TELALAKI YENEBER
July 16th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Birhanu who kill the struggle is the main jealous because Ethiopians liked Lidetu mikegna yimut . Degmo aynorm
July 16th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Birhanu who kill the struggle is the main jealous because Ethiopians liked Lidetu mikegna yimut . Degmo aynorm leba gurage
shintam
Lemayawksh tatngi alu
July 16th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
ዮኡ አረ ጐድ ፎር ኖትሂን ግ
July 17th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Like any Ethiopian willing to to sell his people, Lidetu has the right to be a TPLF spy. And he seems to be doing a good job.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10320
http://www.eppfonline.org/
let’s get those cancer tigrains.
let’s get them including agazzzi meles monkey. We must work with our eritrean brothers to get those tigrain rats/monkeie
July 17th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10320
http://www.eppfonline.org/
let’s get those cancer tigrains.
let’s get them including agazzzi meles
monkey. We must work with
our eritrean brothers to get those tigrain rats/monkeie
July 17th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/10320
http://www.eppfonline.org/
let’s get those cancer tigrains.
let’s get them including agazzzi
meles monkey. We must work with
our eritrean brothers to get
those tigrain rats/monkeie
July 31st, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I heard Kahadiw Lidetu is in Atlanta area. We should get him and teach him a lesson that he will never forget.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:36 pm
ኣሀያዉ ልደቱ አተላንታ ነዉ ያለው:: ጎበዝ ዝም ትላላችሁ:: መንጋጋዉን አርግፈዉ::
August 1st, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Jegenaw you must be stupid ? what do yu mean (should get him teaching lesson ) what the fuck do you think going to do ? why don’t you peopel get real stop saying nonsence.