Failed Ethiopian ‘day of rage’ highlights Zenawi’s power

[Jacaylbaro]

Calling itself the Ethiopian Youth Movement, the group had set May 28 as the ‘day of rage’ against what it said was Zenawi’s authoritarian regime.

 

The day was chosen to coincide with the 20th anniversary celebrations of Ethiopia’s ruling party. In online networks and all through the blogosphere thousands of Ethiopians had subscribed to the cause, giving rise to feeble hopes of a rare challenge to Zenawi’s hold on the Horn of Africa country.

 

Instead, tens of thousands turned out to fervently mark the ruling Ethiopian People’s Democratic Front (EPRDF) brief but colourful party. At Meskel Square in the capital Addis Ababa, throngs chanted praises of Zenawi in a solid show of support.

 

It is estimated that the EPRDF has five million members. However, the Zenawi administration remains far from upholding democratic values and has been repeatedly criticised for its poor human rights and media freedom record.

 

Despite this the opposition remains a shell. Zenawi’s party holds an absolute 99.6 per cent majority in parliament after last year’s elections.

 

The date, May 28, also marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of Col Mengistu Hailemariam’s brutal regime, which brought Zenawi and his guerilla group to power after a 17-year bitter struggle.

 

READ MORE .... http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/1179082/-/o1vvbgz/-/index.html

[Mad_Mullah]

The real reason why it failed was because it was a Habashi event, Oromos, Somalis didnt' even know. Secondly, we haven't got media like internet, Facebook etc. so how should we know when something kicks off in Aids Ababa?