DO NOT LET THEM BETRAY THE SOVEREIGN VOTE OF THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE! DO NOT LET THEM USE PEOPLES POWER AS A MEANS TO THEIR NARCISSISTIC END!

We, Diaspora Ethiopians, are gravely concerned about the current unfolding of events in Ethiopia, which appear to be taking the opposition not only to what we consider a morally reprehensible and legally questionable, but fatalistic direction from which recovery would be a deadly uphill battle. The calling-off of the proposed October 02, 2005 national protest and the ending of the three-day stay-home strike, we would argue, are two of the most deadly and suicidal decisions the opposition ever made since the May 15 election. This is so because they miserably failed the Ethiopian people when they were duped into negotiation without any precondition set on their part and/or concessions granted. It is claimed that the government has been willing to negotiate and that they (some controversial leaders) had to respond in good faith by calling off the demo and the stay-home strike. What did they (you) get in exchange for appeasing the EPRDF regime? If history means anything, appeasers are always the losers and this will become abundantly clear to all sooner than later when the clones in the Meles Parliament start feeling the victors justice.

If yesterday were not enough when some leaders laughed at the spilled blood of the June 2005 martyrs, we are extremely offended that there are still players in the opposition (both old and new) who continue to work hard chipping away on the resolve and strength of our people. Our people paid and continue to pay the ultimate sacrifice while such leaders are secretly negotiating their own egotistic and infamous agenda to power and prestige. Neither of the core political issues: the issue of national unity government, as an alternative, and the settling of the rigged votes, as the number one issue, have been pushed further as condition for negotiation. Even the very basic demand for the release of thousands of political prisoners and justice for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, has become a luxury, in their eyes.
To the martyrs of the June 2005 massacre and all those who died in the hands of this regime in the past 14 years and the thousands who languish in prison, we will never forget you until you get justice!
We are cognizant of the fact that politics requires an ongoing dialogue between parties to conflict if we are to have an end goal that would be beneficial to all. We are also aware that such dialogue must be entered into with good faith among all parties. The glaring truth is: there never was any such good faith on the part of the ruling elite of the EPRDF! Now, we are confronted by the devious agendas of some of our own opposition leaders. Ethiopians are protesting such devious political behavior, which is becoming more dangerous to this countrys future than even the danger coming from the incumbent regime. Hence, we appeal to the conscience of the rank and file within the opposition - UEDF and CUDP, that you:
1) Immediately remove weak links amidst your ranks and replace them with more dedicated, patriotic and selfless leaders as soon as possible;
2) Stand behind your most welcome decision/s to boycott the EPRDF parliament and continue to push for National Unity Government;
3) Stop all talks about entering the EPRDF Parliament and focus on how best to proceed with organizing dissent including another call for national and global protest. This may include the stay home strike, which should be coordinated with civic organizations and must be called sooner than later;
4) Never stop the dialogue with significant interests in the West until they start questioning their double standards: the continued support of dictatorial regimes, on the one hand, and preaching the most coveted international/conventional standards of human and political rights, on the other;
5) Join hands in creating a popular front if you really care about Ethiopia and its 70 million people who cry for salvation. We remind you that it is also time you came up with a different kind of political re-alignment;
6) Combat all temptations coming from the regime in power, which has been sowing the seeds of ethnic hatred, by voicing the concerns of the historically created and/or imagined minorities.
If you fail in your duties and Ethiopia enters into another extended era of dictatorial rule, we would hold you morally and legally responsible. On the other hand, if you continue to push for change, we would, as always, continue to back you through the thin and the thick.

Never Again on Our Knees Salvation for Ethiopia!