There is no doubt that 2012 was one of the most memorable years in our history. We witnessed high dramas, an unforgettable protest, a tyrant’s global hide-and-seek game, the elite’s wailing and cries, a mass hysteria, a dictator’s funeral in par with North Korea, the coronation of a puppet….
All these happened from mid to the end of the year.
Thousands of listeners and viewers of the Ethiopian Satellite Television and Radio residing across the world have cast their votes for a coveted honor, “Great Ethiopian Man of the Year in 2012,” to select the man that had a noticeable and significant impact in the year.
Over 20 prominent Ethiopians were nominated. Yenesew Genre, the man who self-immolated himself calling for freedom, artist and activist Tamagn Beyene, jailed journalists Eskinder Nega, Reeyot Alemu, Wubishet Taye, Ethiopian Muslim movement leader Ustaz Abubeker, Dr. Berhanu Nega, Andualem Arega, Prof. Mesfin Woldemariam, pop sensation Teddy Afro and… the late tyrant Meles Zenawi.
When the results of the votes were revealed, one man stood out tall among the crowd. Forty-eight percent of the votes went to the man who generated the most significant buzz and impact in the year. Journalist and press freedom activist Abebe Gellaw was selected ESAT’s audience and viewers’ Ethiopian Man of the Year.
I find this a fitting tribute to a man who took a great risk at the G8 Food Security Symposium on May 18, 2012. When Meles Zenawi was in the middle of his sophistry in front of world leaders, distinguished scholars and corporate leaders, Abebe stood and told Zenawi the bitter truth he tried to avoid in his 21-year long misrule. It was a shock therapy to the arrogant tyrant that shattered and broke the tyrant in front of world leaders.
Award winning journalist Abebe Gellaw has collected a few awards and recognitions. He was one the 2011 recipients of Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett press freedom award, he was named a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum in 2010. Former John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University and Yahoo International Fellow in 2009, journalist Abebe Gellaw has clearly and steadily demonstrated that commitment to make a difference will eventually pay off.
At the G8 summit what broke Meles was not his thunderous voice that shrank the tyrant, but the truth he spoke loudly for the world two year. Interrupting Zenawi in the middle of his lecture, the powerful words that became the highlight of the “G8 food security” meeting carried the most weighty messages that overshadowed even the speeches of U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Meles Zenawi is dictator! Free Eskinder Nega and political prisoners! You are a dictator! Stop committing crimes against humanity! Don’t talk about food without freedom! We need freedom more than food! We need freedom! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Free Eskinder Nega and all political prisoners!”
These words will remain valid until Ethiopia is freedom dictatorship, injustice, abuse of power and misrule. For me and millions of Ethiopians across the word, those words represented us at the highest level. They represent our aspirations, interests and dreams. They will be etched in our mind as long as we remain oppressed.
Journalist Abebe Gellaw deserves the honor. A true journalist is not always afraid to take risks for the sake of speaking truth to power. The words that irreparably broke Meles Zenawi have uplifted us and injected inspiration in our struggle for freedom. May 18th is a watershed in our struggle against tyranny.
I congratulate journalist Abebe Gellaw for being selected man of the people by listeners and viewers of ESAT. As much as you lifted up our spirit, Ethiopians have unequivocally spoken that they do not forget their heroes and heroines that fight for freedom. This coveted honor is not just for you but for all those who take risks for the sake of freedom. Ethiopia and Ethiopians will never forget the history you have made. Thank you!
We shall prevail! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
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