Released CUD leaders received welcome by Addis Ababa inhabitants
-Birtukan awarded car from grateful supporters

By Simegnish Yekoye

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – During a welcoming lunch ceremony arranged by some Addis Ababa residents to congratulate the released Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party leaders, the organizers awarded Birtukan Midekssa, one of the party’s main leaders, a new XL –Toyota Corolla.

The organizers who are mainly from the Ferensaye Legasion area, where Birtukan grew up and lives in, organized the lunch ceremony in honor of her and to welcome senior CUD officials and journalists who have been in jail for the last 20 months until they were pardoned on July 20, 2007.
“At a time when we don’t have many woman politicians in Ethiopia, Birtukan has managed to break the bridge and showed us her strength. So she deserves any reward we can afford,” said representative of the organizers Birhanu Mesele.

Two silver necklaces with a victory sign of the party engraved on was also given for two council members of the party, Mulunehe Eeyoel and Alemayehu Mesele. Accordingly the two members were chosen for the reward for the strong participation they have given in Ethiopian politics at their young age.
The main top leaders of the party Professor Mesfin W/Mariam and Hailu Shawel were also awarded with scepter with a victory sign on the top.

Three of the mediators between the government and the prisoners in facilitating the pardon process were present during the lunch ceremony.
“Though it has been 10 years since democracy started in Ethiopia, it couldn’t go with the needed pace and that is because we have been ignoring national reconciliation but now we ask the government to continue with the good effort it showed by using mediators”, said Birhanu.

around 400 people were present at the event where the participants promised to continue working with the party leaders for as long as they work towards freedom and democracy.
Expressing her deep gratitude for the organizers of ceremony she and her party affiliates received, Birtukan said all what the people did has proved that the connection between the people and CUD party is still strong and powerful. She also promised her party will continue to be hope of Ethiopians working towards assuring democracy.

Making a speech as well, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam said his party will continue to work hard in insuring power will remain in the hands of people.
Meanwhile it is learnt that CUD official delegates who were hading to US and Europe for diplomacy work have not yet received their visas to enter the respective countries.

The party leaders have submitted their visa applications to the embassies are waiting for clearance from the department state.
The leadership delegation to the US will include Engineer Hailu Shawul, Birtukan Midekssa, Berhanu Nega, Dr. Hailu Araya, Brook Kebede and Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw. And the delegation to Europe includes Dr. Yacob Woldemariam, Muluneh Eyoel, Kifele Tigneh, Abayneh Birhanu and Aschalew Ketema.