Ethiopia: Diaspora protest PM invitation to G20 Summit in Pittsburg
Published 09/25/2009
- 2:56 a.m. GMT
Credit - getty images
Meles Zenawi and his wife Azeb Mesfin arrive at the Pittsburgh International Airport in Coraopoli
About 100 Ethiopians organized one of the several demonstrations in Pittsburg and protested the invitation of Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to the 2009 G20 Summit in the United States. The protestors asked for the release of opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa and for justice in Ethiopia.
Only leaders of the most powerful countries and economies in the world are invited to the G20 summit. Meles Zenawi is coming to the summit as a leader of the New Partnership for Africa's development (NEPAD) of the African Union (AU).
Meles was reportedly a co-chair of an international meeting in New York over global warming and he has also been selected to represent the African continent at the Copenhagen Climate Change talks.
G20 Delegations began to arrive on Wednesday night while President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama came around 3:30 pm. Meles Zenawi and his wife Azeb Mesfin were the last to arrive at the Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania for the G20 Summit which will take place on September 24 and 25.
Democracy means having the gut og " agree to disagree". ALthough we cant agree with Meles , atleast we should be respectful. Why do you write "Meles Zenawi and his wife Azeb Mesfin" --- you should say "Meles Zenawi and First Lady Azeb Mesfin"..... bilgina silitane aydelem....
to be called as a first lady, they have to come to the power not with a gun but with civilized peaceful election, therefore how u can call someone first lady who does not represent the people. people let us be ratational,dont support or oppose the govt. b/c u r form that race or not. the first point is does meles represent the country, in my opinion NO, why, he is in power only by force for the last 20 yrs and will continue like this.
There were more groups of Ethiopian protestors unable to join with other groups as Police fired canisters of pepper spray and smoke at marchers protesting the Group of 20 summit Thursday after anarchists responded to calls to disperse by rolling trash bins and throwing rocks.
The march turned chaotic at just about the time that President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrived for a meeting with leaders of the world's major economies.
Meles is an Intelligent African leader, you believe or not. The invitation comming to him from developed countries, and the speech he presents are evidences for him. Shame on you loosers.
unlike in ethiopia, people are free to criticize leaders in the rest of the world notice, nobody was shot or killed despite violent protests at the end
maybe thedictator can learn civility, fredom and humanity during his time in the free world
