TO ASSASIN THE OLDEST ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY IN BRITAIN (ECB)? HAND OFF ECB! 

By Aberra Zenebe

when I read Mr Mulugeta Asrate’s articles accusing of the Ethiopian Community in Britain (ECB) involving with Mr Kassa Kebede’s “terrorist activities”, I was staggered. I was really staggered. Before passing any judgement on the articles I decided to stick with my principle of impartiality - NOT TO JUMP TO A CONCLUSION OF FOR OR AGAINST THE ACCUSED OR THE ACCUSER. I kept my eyes blind as a bat even though I saw Mr Mulugeta in the past trying to stir up it many Ethiopian civic organisations in London. And, I kept my ears as deaf as a post although many told me many wrong doings of Mr Mulugeta and reminded me that he is a type of person who never tries to salve his conscience. Instead, I only asked myself two questions inrespect to the accused, the Ethiopian Community in Britain (ECB) and the accuser, Mr Mulugeta Asrate. Is the allegation true? Or is there something lies behind Mr Mulugeta’s allegation? These were the basis of my investigation.  

As the accuser has already aired his points, I decided to approach ECB and asked them put forward their version of the story. After all, ECB neither is nor should be a home of few individuals or group(s) but all exile Ethiopians living in the UK. 

In the middle of my investigation, Mr Mulgeta’s subliminal calls in his article entitled “Kassagate and Ethiopians in London” not to get involved in any way with ECB but to stay away from it, kept my eyes peeled. Honestly speaking, his attempt to blackmail us, Ethiopians in London, by quoting British Home Office’s regulations angered me a bit. Why should we stay away from our home, OUR COMMUNITY? Shouldn’t we try to salvage OUR COMMUNITY if it is poisoned with Mr Kassa’s “terrorist activities” as suggested by its accuser? Shouldn’t we try to rescue OUR COMMUNITY if the contrary is true and his allegation is fabricated and intended to kill it? The answer is simple –YES, WE HAVE TO SALVAGE OUR COMMUNITY in the case of either ways. That was the motive of my investigation.  

To come back to my search for the truth, I asked ECB to tell me their version of the story and to prove that the allegation is false.  

Yes, they showed me their documents to prove the following facts: 

• ECB never invited Mr Kassa Kebede as a guest speaker. He, however, attended the Conference as it was opened for the public.
• Following Mr Mulugeta’s article, “Kassa Kebede …” and his telephone allegation of ECB to the London Borough of Camden, the Community wasn’t &isn’t under investigation. But, it was asked explanation on the matter. After receiving explanation from the Community, Camden’s Voluntary Sector Unity expressed its satisfaction with ECB’s response.

I myself also attended the 3-days conference and watched Mr Kassa Kebede when the Chairperson of that particular afternoon session gave him the opportunity. Although I didn’t and still don’t agree with many points he raised, I was not against listening him, as the objective of the conference was to bring together all groups of Ethiopians and let them having discussions among themselves.  

By the end of my walk for the search of the truth, I couldn’t keep anymore my eyes blind and my ears deaf in connection to the motive of Mr Mulugeta’s accusation.  

After all, it is not a secret that all the articles, which have been posted on Ben’s Page by Mr Mulugeta, are the works of the Ethiopian Embassy in London. Every effort to control or other wise to dismantle all civic organisations in the UK is made and co-ordinated by the Embassy’s Diplomatic Committee to which Mulugeta is a member. And, local i.e. British staffs are employed for the job of controlling or otherwise dismantling UK-based Ethiopian community & religious organisations  

Mr Mulugeta’s 10 or more years-curriculum vitae, in connection with the Ethiopian Community in Britain and other civic organisations in the UK is not good at all, too. Because of his false accusation, ECB was nearly closed although hard-working and strong Ethiopians rescued it. Mulugeta is also banned from the St Marry Ethiopian Orthodox Church in London after he tried closing it up. The Ethiopian Help Line also reported to police that Mr Mulugeta stolen money from their office. The blunder and damage he did even to his first wife, his cash withdrawal from the account of his close relative that came from USA to UK, …a lot more can be said about his black–list life history. In short, Mr Mulugeta is a type of person who never tries to salve his conscience.  

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