Meles Zenawi-Columbia University World Leaders Forum Protests

Tesfaye Negussie and Evangeline El Fayed of United Nile examine the debate on Meles Zenawi as protests erupt during his discussion at Columbia University in New York City.

Meles Zenawi-Columbia University World Leaders Discussion

MELES ZENAWI CAME TO TALK ABOUT AFRICA’S POSITION IN THE WORLD THE FOCUS WAS ON HIS CONTROVERSIAL GOVERNING METHODS

The opposing sides were penned in separate barricades at opposite sides of the street. They hurled insults at each other as dozens of police officers stood in between them and passer byes looked on with intent curiosity.

“Shame on you!” one side yelled.

“Everyone is laughing at you!” the other side chanted.

The two sides were the opposition and supporters of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi. Zenawi was invited, Wednesday, September 22, 2010, for a discussion at Columbia University by its World Leaders Forum to talk about the current global economy and its impact in Africa, but Zenawi’s alleged human rights violations and controversial politics were the focus of debate.

“Sometimes people that are protesting think that we don’t know that he is controversial; that we don’t know what is going on in Ethiopia,” Mamadou Diouf, the professor of African Studies at Columbia University who moderated the discussion said of the groups that were protesting. “We knew, of course that we’ll have many questions on Ethiopia compared to the questions on the talk.

Zenawi has been Prime Minister of Ethiopia since 1995. His coalition group, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front took control of Ethiopia after ousting the Derg, a military junta that executed and imprisoned hundreds of thousand of Ethiopians without trial.

Supporters of Zenawi hailed Zenawi’s claim that his international connections boost Ethiopia’s economy by 10.1 percent, in the last year. The International Monetary Fund estimates the figure to be about 7 percent. The opposition condemns him as a murder and liar due to the government police killings of 200 unarmed protesters in 2005, the jailing of opposition leaders and his government’s censorship of the independent press, among other allegations.

“One of the worst violators of human rights in Africa,” Neamin Zeleke who was protesting against the Prime Minister said. “The very fact that he is invited here at Columbia, it is a disgrace and a shame.”

I tried to interview one of the Meles supporters, but was told by one of them that I didn’t have the credentials to interview them. One of the supporters even went as far as to slap the camera out of my hand as I tried to take pictures of their group.

The forum was attended by those from the Ethiopian community; journalists; and Columbia faculty, students and alumni. Zenawi stayed in accordance with the discussion topic and focused on Africa’s current economic situation.

“Africans have, for the first time in three decades, real alternatives to the orthodox,” Zenawi said. “Africans now have a real chance to chart a new coarse of development, one that incorporates the best practices elsewhere and is capable of generating fast growth.”

Africa’s “alternative to the orthodox” can be seen with China-Africa relations in the past decade. According to the Journal of International Relations, trade between Africa and China reached $55 billion in 2006 and is expected to double in 2010.

Zenawi centered his address on the failures of the West’s economic practice of neoliberalism, in Africa. Neoliberalism is an economical term that refers to free commerce void of government intervention, commerce barriers and tariffs; not to be confused with the political definition of liberalism. It is liberal in the sense that it has no economic controls.

“Neoliberalism has failed. Not only in the peripheries, but also in its heartland,” Zenawi said referring to the global recession. “The crisis has also showed that those who have rejected it have continued to prosper, even during the crisis.”

During the question and answer portion of the forum only three out of 13 of the questions and statements presented to the Prime Minister by the audience were related to economic issues. Nearly all the rest were directed at the government’s alleged human rights violations and controversial practices.

I asked Zenawi how he can claim that Ethiopia’s government operates as a democracy after his government jailed the leader of a major opposition party in Ethiopia, Birtukan Mideksa, as well as hundreds of other opponents; he has jammed international news stations that are critical of his government; and his government was accused by neutral overseers for denying transparency in the 2005 elections.

Zenawi chose to answer my question by only responding to the issue of Mideksa, the imprisoned opposition leader. He went on for several minutes about how his government was justified in sentencing her to life in prison because she denied that she ever gave a pardon to be released from jail, for a previous crime.

Mohammed Keita, African Advocacy Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists said that he has heard Zenawi’s rhetoric before.

“His administration has maintained this rhetoric that claims freedom of the press and freedom of expression is protected in Ethiopia, but we have documented otherwise,” Keita said. “The Ethiopian administration is so well aware of who we are that we have the distinct honor of having our website blocked, in Ethiopia.”

Mamadou Diouf, the professor of African Studies at Columbia University was happy with the day’s outcome.

“Inviting Meles or any other controversial head of state is an opportunity to engage directly with them,” Diouf said. “It’s a democratic practice.”

Fundamentalism V. Fundamentalism

United Nile works in conjunction with The WHAT? (Washington Heights Arts Tantra) to produce the first episode in our mini docs series. This first installment covers the protests surrounding the Islamic Community Center debate. Divino Denegro and Evangeline El Fayed cover this from Ground Zero on 9/11 2010 in NYC and examines the right/left in relation to religion and patriotism.

Karim Adel- A Discussion on Egyptian Hip Hop

In a discussion produced by United Nile, Karim Adel Eissa of Arabian Knightz, CEO of Arab League Records, discusses his experiences with hip hop, what it means to him as an Egyptian, as an artist, and how he pursues his identity and hopes to educate about his people through music.

Derartu Tulu- Ethiopian Marathon Runner Fueled by Homeland

PBS, WORLD FOCUS, March 25, 2010

CORRESPONDENT/PRODUCER/EDITOR - 
Tesfaye Negussie of United Nile

Long-distance running is not only Ethiopia’s national sport; it is a source of pride for Ethiopians all over the world. Ethiopia boasts a long list of champion long-distance runners, including Abebe Bikila, Haile Gebreselassie and Fatuma Roba.

Derartu Tulu, a native Ethiopian, added to her long list of professional first-place finishes by winning the New York City Marathon in November 2009.

Worldfocus contributing blogger Tesfaye Negussie went to Ethiopia and interviewed Tulu about what it takes to be one of the best runners in the world.

United Nile: The Innovation of Cross Cultural Media

1 half Ethiopian Copt Tesfaye Negussie, 1 half Egyptian Copt Evangeline El Fayed, we have come together through our love of poetry, story telling, and truth. Fortunate to have had access to education, as well as a global perspective, we both realized that as oppressed peoples everywhere are taught to focus on what separates them, we have learned that true strength comes in discovering what connects us.

As spoken word artists, writers, and filmmakers, we formed United Nile to represent who we are, and to also represent our embracing of all peoples. Our poetry focuses on our culture, love, race relations, socio-economic issues, and self-education. We hope to continue to work diligently to educate on unity among brown and black peoples, as well as instill self love and education within the younger generation through poetic and musical expression as well as film and documentary series.

As United Nile we are committed to establishing positive outlets of creative expression within not only our Coptic and African communities, but also in collaboration with the Latino, Arabic, and African American communities. United Nile believes that we have been conditioned to focus on what separates us, instead of building on what makes us similar. The existence of positive, well planned, events and activities that are partnered with community service and outreach is a great social need. United Nile believes that in these difficult times, the cultivation of community, education, and hope should be at the forefront of entertainment. United Nile believes that there is a way to interweave these themes into the simplest of events. Through building and networking with people from all walks of life, sharing the common thread of cultural pride and dedication to social justice, United Nile will work diligently to become a voice of unity and social awareness within our community.


Welcome to The United Nile Blog, we thank you for embarking on this journey with us.


Bless.




Zulu Proverb: "A word uttered cannot be taken back"
and so I say "Freedom!"
-Matthew Shenoda, Coptic Poet