(Feb 14, 2012, Daily Nation)--Ethiopians are demanding the erection of a statue of former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The campaign comes two weeks after the AU unveiled a statue of former Ghanaian leader and renowned pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah at its new compound. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi while answering a question in parliament called Haile Selassie a “feudal dictator” and termed the campaign “disrespectful”.
A team of self-organised Ethiopian politicians, scholars, elders and other individuals have also written a letter to the AU Commission expressing their disappointment with the “ignoring” of Haile Selassie. The letter also called for the 54-member bloc to consider putting up a statue of the emperor.
African Union Deputy Commissioner Erastus Mwencha has acknowledged receiving the letter but declined to comment.
The campaign comes two weeks after the AU unveiled a statue of former Ghanaian leader and renowned pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah at its new compound. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi while answering a question in parliament called Haile Selassie a “feudal dictator” and termed the campaign “disrespectful”.
A team of self-organised Ethiopian politicians, scholars, elders and other individuals have also written a letter to the AU Commission expressing their disappointment with the “ignoring” of Haile Selassie. The letter also called for the 54-member bloc to consider putting up a statue of the emperor.
African Union Deputy Commissioner Erastus Mwencha has acknowledged receiving the letter but declined to comment.
Liberation struggles
The Nkrumah statue was inaugurated together with the AU’s new $200 million Chinese-built headquarters. Nkrumah is largely credited with being the brains behind the creation of the Organisation of African Unity, the AU’s predecessor.
But Ethiopians have highlighted the role and contribution of Haile Selassie during the OAU’s establishment as well as supporting the liberation struggles of many African countries. Gizachew Shiferaw, a former Ethiopian opposition party leader, said ignoring Haile Selassie’s contribution is a historical mistake.
“No one, other than Haile Selassie, fought for the African cause and deployed the resources of his poor country to help other African brothers,” Gizachew told the Nation. Nearly 3,000 people have so far signed the petition.
The Ethiopian Government has been criticised for what is seen as its deliberate silence and snubbing of the former emperor who was ousted from power in 1974 by a military junta led by Mengistu Haile Mariam and later killed and buried in a secret place.
“He (Zenawi) can raise the issue with African Union officials but he does not want to see the good side of the former leader,” said Ezana Haddis, a university student in the Netherlands. The single Ethiopian opposition MP in the 547-seat parliament raised the issue with Zenawi last week during its regular session.
Source: Daily Nation
“No one, other than Haile Selassie, fought for the African cause and deployed the resources of his poor country to help other African brothers,” Gizachew told the Nation. Nearly 3,000 people have so far signed the petition.
The Ethiopian Government has been criticised for what is seen as its deliberate silence and snubbing of the former emperor who was ousted from power in 1974 by a military junta led by Mengistu Haile Mariam and later killed and buried in a secret place.
“He (Zenawi) can raise the issue with African Union officials but he does not want to see the good side of the former leader,” said Ezana Haddis, a university student in the Netherlands. The single Ethiopian opposition MP in the 547-seat parliament raised the issue with Zenawi last week during its regular session.
Source: Daily Nation
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