A Democratic Hero who deserves our appreciation!

May 23, 2014

by Nesanet Nerese

For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice, necessity and importance of political and social rights. B. R. Ambedkar (Roughly translated in to Amharic: ወጤታማ የሆነ ፖለቲካዊ ለወጥ ‘ኣብዮት’ ለማመጣት የሚያሰፈልገዎ በሆኔታዎች መጥፎ መሆን ማላዘን አይደለም ይልቁንስ ዋናው አስፈለጊው ነገር ለፍትህ ለፖለቲካዊ እና ማህበረስባዊ መብት መከበር ኣስፈላጊነት ጠንካራ የሆነ እምነት ይዞ ማራመድ እንጂ)

Yes, this Quote from Ambedkar speaks a volume about the need of having a strong belief (conviction) in change i.e. for a real change to take place in a society where there is a deep rooted discontent because of injustice.

So in this respect it is fair to say that Ethiopia is blessed to have sons and daughters who struggle with conviction, commitment and dedication to bring a democratic change in Ethiopia so that each and every Ethiopians can live equally in a justice, democratic, and united Ethiopia.

One of the many remarkable Ethiopians who have strong conviction and dedication to such noble cause is Journalist & Activist Abebe Gellaw. Abebe Gellaw is a highly educated professional journalist who earned his bachelor’s degree from Addis Ababa University and a post-graduate diploma from London Metropolitan University. Abebe Gellaw’s excellence in his profession and the achievements he made in his life time is several and simply amazing.

Just to mention some of his several achievements:

He has for example received many awards and bursaries (i.e. monetary awards) such as:

1. An international journalism training bursary at the London-based Reuters Foundation in 1998.
2. He also received a Champions of Change Millennium Award in 2002
3. He was even awarded with lifetime membership of the Millennium Awards Fellowships in the UK.
4. He even received a British Telecom Community Connections Award that same year.
5. Abebe Gellaw was also one of the few professional journalists who were sponsored by the world biggest Internet Company Yahoo at Stanford University in 2008-09.https://www.flickr.com/photos/yodelanecdotal/3329635076/
As many of his achievements are unquestionably amazing, it’s even worth noticing how responsible, honest, rational, balanced and down to earth he is.

In his dedication for a democratic and noble cause, Abebe has on different occasions reaffirmed his decision to keep on his engagement as a democratic activist, case in point is the promise he made when he was selected as one of the 197 Young Global Leaders by World Economic Forum.

On this occasion Abebe said “I am not only thrilled but also humbled to be included in this year’s World Economic Forum list of honorees. I will take advantage of this global opportunity to promote the causes that are closer to the heart of Ethiopians such as the struggle for freedom, respect for human rights and dignity in Ethiopia,”

As you all know, Abebe Gellaw was one of the 197 Young Global Leaders who were selected by World Economic Forum from a pool of nearly 5000 nominees from around the world for their “professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.”

Few names who were selected with him were Evan Williams, Co-founder and CEO of Twitter, Steven Chen, Co-founder and Chief Technologist of YouTube, Jon Favorue, Obama’s chief speech writer, Nelson Mandela’s grandson and South African Member of Parliament, Mandla Mandela, Saudi Arabian Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan, Crown Princess Mette-Marrit of Norway, sixteen Ministers from around the world and many CEOs

Keeping his promise, Abebe has continued his struggle in his democratic activist role using his wisdom, knowledge, skill and experience.

Here are some of the many occasions that he raised the concerns of millions of Ethiopians on different forums where world decision makers are gathered.

• In Tanzania: Abebe confronted Meles Zenawi at the World Economic Forum on Africa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, May 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI598aBMCvI
• In Norway: In 2012, At Oslo freedom forum, where humanitarian issues come to the top of the global agenda, Abebe gave eye-opening presentations to the gathered audience and thereby exposed the TPLF tyranny to the whole world attending through different medias.http://www.oslofreedomforum.com/speakers/abebe_gellaw.html
  • In USA Washington: The Prominent journalist Abebe Gellaw confronted the late hated dictator Meles Zenawi by interrupting his speech at the Symposium that was held at Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington DC where the attendants of the Symposium include, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America; Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary, United States Department of State; and 3 African leaders. http://ecadforum.com/ethiopianvideo/2012/05/18/esat-breaking-news-meles-zenawi-humiliated/
  • On May 8, 2014, Ethiopian journalist and freedom activist respectfully interrupted President Barack Obama at a Democratic National Committee Fundraiser and called on his support to stand with the oppressed people of Ethiopia. Fortunately, President Barack Obama also agreed with Abebe’s call for freedom and systematically made it clear that a foreign policy change will be needed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR0w__Zbu94/

The fact that Abebe, in addition to his appeal to Obama, even has taken the advantage of his presence on the fundraising to inform other US High officials about the ongoing repression in Ethiopia is very admirable.

Here are some of the many occasions that he raised the concerns of millions of Ethiopians on different forums where world decision makers are gathered.

Abebe Gellaw is the only Ethiopian who actually systematically succeed in taking the freedom demand of the Ethiopian people to as high level as it can go.

Abebe apart from being very active in his advocacy role on different global arena, he has obviously been one of the founders and program host on ESAT, in which he interviewed several US high officials who direct or indirectly can have an impact on Ethiopian politics.

Apart from being a program host on ESAT he himself also has been active in debating with different people on ESAT, VOA and on other different Medias as a defender of human right issues in Ethiopia.

This link here below can take you to one of the many videos posted on ESAT on which we can watch Abebe debating with one of TPLF cadres and wisely and intellectually puts his fact based argument about the repressive nature of TPLF.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR0w__Zbu94

To make the long story short, Abebe Gellaw is a great democratic Ethiopian who is a good role model for millions of Ethiopians.

We Ethiopians need to appreciate and support such precious Ethiopian like Abebe Gellaw, as we also need to encourage other democratic activist Ethiopians who are engaged in the struggle at home and in different parts of the world.

It’s only when we support and encourage those who struggle for a peaceful, united, and democratic Ethiopia, where freedom and justice can prevail in our country.

May GOD Bless Ethiopians and Ethiopia!

http://ecadforum.com/blog/a-democratic-hero-who-deserves-our-appreciation/