Bay Area Residents held a successful townhall meeting with Professor Mesfin and Ato Asrat Tassie:

Professor Mesfin Woldemariam and Ato Asrat Tassie held an afternoon townhall meeting with Bay Area Residents. Close to 120 people attended the meeting. In his address, Professor Mesfin reiterated Andenet’s unwavering stance on choosing peaceful means of struggle to bring about positive change in Ethiopia. He stressed that it is possible to change Woyane, but that we need to change ourselves first. He indicated that the Ethiopian Constitution accepts all international laws that protect the means of peaceful struggle. There is nothing in the constitution that prohibits Andenet from engaging in peaceful struggle. But, to succeed in this form of struggle, a strong organizational foundation needs to be established. And that the Diaspora has a responsibility to help the struggle in any way we can. He said that although Woyane has military strength, Andenet has a moral superiority because of the ideals it stands for.

He also chastised Woyane’s perpetual effort to put the Tigrean people and the rest of the Ethiopian people at loggerheads and reiterated that Tigreans are increasingly becoming aware of the scheme. He indicated that there are a great many Tigreans that do not support Woyane and that it is a mistake to lump all Tigreans as Woyane sympathizers. In contrast, he added, there are many non-Tigreans that wholeheartedly accept Woyane’s ways and serve as instruments of suppression.

Ato Asrat Tassie on his part stressed that peaceful struggle does not equal subservience. He said Andenet is determined to implement strong and spirited struggle using means protected by the Ethiopian Constitution. He said peaceful struggle probably requires more bravery than other forms of struggle since in peaceful struggle you confront an armed opponent with your bare hands.

A long and orderly question and answer session was conducted where a wide range of issues were raised.

Elders from the audience presented ‘Thank You’ gifts to the guests on behalf of the Andenet San Jose and Andenet Oakland Support Associations. The gifts were imprinted with text that describes the appreciation that Ethiopians in the Bay Area have for these great leaders.