Unity Toronto
Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions is home to thousands of Ethiopian Canadians. Early settlement begun in great numbers as far back from the early 80s following Derg’s red terror campaign and armed rebel groups displacing local populations. The influx of refugees to Sudan from Gondar, Eritrea and Tigray in thousands prompted western governments to implement an unprecedented resettlement programs at a larger scale. The Canadian people have since hosted at least 50 thousands of immigrants of Ethiopian origin who have chosen this great vast country home for starting and raising families pursue and advance careers and ultimately retire. Currently, we see Ethiopians in all walks of life at major towns and cities and the visibility is getting clearer as more sons and daughters of early or late settlers are going through academic and professional excellence and joining the mainstream job market. Noticeably again, Canada will soon witness emergence of a second generation Ethiopian Canadians destined to make a difference in all respects.
There seems no end to the influx of refugees and appears size of population is continuously growing as citizens in Ethiopia are still subjected to various forms of human rights abuses. Harassment, intimidation, arrest and extra judicial killings are mounting under Melez Zenawi’s terror infested regime. Our people are suffering under the fascistic grip of Meles brutal security system. Tyranny has reigned under a closed political space for any opposition. Every sector of the population is under 24 hrs security surveillance through neighborhood cadres which emulates Stalin’s Communist regime. As a disciple of Stalin, Meles Zenaw’s record of atrocities goes back to the start of his jungle times when he secretly killed his compatriots from Tigray. Testimonies of ex members of his then rebel group have been printed on a number of publication recently including the millions of aid money funneled to his secret overseas accounts allowing mothers and children of Tigray dying of hunger in the 80s.
How one would expect democratic governance from a rebel leader like Meles with a communist ideology in his veins, pathological liar, and shrewd to eliminate individuals or group of individuals with dissenting views/. No single instance in his whole life time one would bring forth supporting Meles is a democratic leader to reckon with. The 99.6% is a case in a point to substantiate his ruthlessness and his total neglect to messages what this figure conveys to Ethiopians and the international public at large. If Stalin or Saddam were alive today, would they congratulate him for a job well done or consult him for recount until he secures 100% It is with his “victorious” mood and fresh as “champion” of democracy that Meles has landed in Toronto for G2O as a guest. The invitation made by Mr Stephen Harper has infuriated Ethiopian Canadians and strongly urged him to review his action as inviting Meles would undermine the provisions of Canadian constitution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa_StnICdgQMembers of Parliament have also reminded Mr Harper that his action is unacceptable by millions of Canadians as Meles is notorious abuser of human rights. As tax payers, Ethiopian Canadians have to come out in throngs and condemn the coming of Meles to Toronto. They consider him as unelected leader who rigged ballots in successive staged elections including the recent one. They consider this is a great occasion to expose Meles in front of the international media.
As determined as ever, human rights groups in Toronto got together and charted a plan to coordinate a protest rally against the tyrant leader Meles. Through self financing and organizational experience activists have accumulated over the years, they embarked on pooling resources and laid down the logistical needs of such great event. Unity for Human Rights and Democracy, SOCEP, EPRP(D) and GINBOT 7 support groups, later joined by the Ethiopian Association Human Rights Committee have done a remarkable job organizing and managing the largest ever protest rally in North America. Toronto has proven itself that it is home to determined and committed citizens to support the struggle for justice and Democracy in Ethiopia.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 6am, Queens Park, seat of the Ontario parliament, space spotters assigned were at the scene. There were only TV station trucks mounted with Satellite dishes and cables lining up along north side parliament building. Yilma drove early from his east end home and parked his car at a corner confused. He expected a large crowd and could see only tame walking from the east corner blowing his horn that early morning and carrying one huge Ethiopian Flag. “There I could see another flag from a far corner and as approaching closer was another activist,”, said Yilma. Another activist just parked his van with full load of protest materials and supplies and started unloading banners, flags and placards carrying slogans. Gradually, the group got bigger and louder at 8am. T shirts with pictures of Birtukan and slogan “STOP GENOCIDE IN ETHIOPIA” were distributed to rally participants. As the first well organized protest group at the park ready to March, news crew of various radio, TV and prints had the opportunity to come around and take images and interviews
The Toronto protest rally had participants as far away from Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal ,London , Kitchener, Hamilton and even from bordering states in USA. The protest rally has sent clear messages across that “Meles is a tyrant who deserves no place at G20”. The Canadian public has been well informed that Prime Minister Harper is using tax payers money to dine and wine with tyrants like Meles. All along the route marchers went through , loud voices have been heard echoing “Free Birtukan Medeksa. Free Aberash Berta, Free Abera Yemaneab . Free All Political Prisoners” messages.
As committed ever, Patriotic Ethiopians withstood the rain pouring all morning long through past midday. It was indeed the largest, well organized and obviously louder rally ever in Canada which has attracted so many spectators along the route traveled and effective mainstream media attention that reached millions around the world It was past 3pm , rally completed the close to 5 km route allowed. It converged back at Queen’s park for closing speech by representatives of the organizing group. Each representative expressed satisfaction on the success of the rally and vowed to continue the struggle until Ethiopians are freed from ethno fascistic regime of Meles Zenawi.
Later that evening, event organizers had solidarity dinner with guests from other cities. It was attended by Honorable Maria Mina, Federal parliament member. As a staunch supporter of Ethiopians struggle for human rights and democracy, Honorable Maria Mina addressed the solidarity evening .She reiterated that human rigs and democracy in Ethiopia will continue to be a pressing agenda in the Parliament and expressed her resolute to fight for it. The president of Ethiopian association in Toronto, Dr Haile Fenta also addressed the group and called for unity. Representatives from each city were also given the opportunity to say something about the occasion.
Teklemariam , human rights activist who flew from Vancouver made a statement urging every one to transform the struggle to a higher level which all others shared same determination for the realization of our age old dream of freedom , justice and equality for all.
Toronto June 26, 2010
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