Letter to CNN and Ms. Erin Burnet

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Letter to CNN and Ms. Erin Burnet

Kidane Gebregzabher, August 26, 2012

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's funeral

I have read and watched your report titled, "U.S. aid to Ethiopia helping neither us nor Ethiopians", particularly about the late Prime Minster of Ethiopia Mr. Meles Zenawi report was dishearten, and insensitive.

I do not understand how a journalist can report such a fabricated news, and insensitive to the people of Ethiopia in such a difficult time? I accept professionalism and factual report from CNN and in any news outlet for that matter. CNN is an international news outlet that viewed in the World; however I think you have ruined CNN’s reputations, I personally don’t think that CNN has any credibility to report factual news; rather it has become a propaganda news outlet. In the eyes of millions of Ethiopians CNN is the most unreliable and biased news report in our lifetime, unless Ms. Erin Burnet apologizes and corrects her mistakes. We Ethiopian Americans demand an apology from CNN and Ms. Erin Burnet in particular; we are demanding nothing more or less but the truth. Is this too much to ask?

Dear Ms. Erin Burnet just for your information the late Prime Minster Meles Zenawi was a visionary, and revolutionary in many ways I can think off. For example under his administration we Ethiopian-Americans are able to visit our families in Ethiopia without any fear or harassments of any kind regardless of our political views, quite contrary to what you have said, "We saw what an African police state looked like when I was in Ethiopia last month." I really don’t know what you are trying to say, but police is a police anywhere in the World as far as I am concern. The police job is to protect their people and to safeguard for everyone’s safety. You should be thankful the police were there to protect you. Or maybe you expected to see American police uniform? Or maybe you expected special preferences since you are white and America? If that is the case somehow you got the wrong information about Ethiopia during your orientation, there is no preference everyone is treated equal, it does not matter the skin of your color or status.

If you are referring to Ethiopia’s policies then I seriously doubt that you will be an expert in foreign policies just because you stop by or you use Ethiopia’s airport. If that is the case then the World population is almost an expert in foreign policies including myself because I have been in many countries airports.

If dear Prime Minster Meles Zenawi was a dictator you would not have been allowed to be in Ethiopia in the first place because I don’t know any dictator that allowed a foreign journalist, especially incompetent journalist. I have not seen any dictator that welcomed any journalist if there is any please let me know. Second your comparison Ethiopia’s human rights ranking is without a merit. How do you come to that conclusion and where is your source? Also can you enlighten your audience what was Ethiopia’s ranks before Prime Minister Meles Zenawi took office in terms of human rights, economically, and politically? May be that doesn’t interest you because your motive is something else perhaps.

"The story matters to America because Ethiopia’s dictator was an ally in the fight against Al Qaeda in Somalia." Because of that the U.S. decided to look the other way when there is human rights abuse and jailed journalist and what have you. Something tells me your information is purely collected or gathered from those so called oppositions. Otherwise your story would have been mutual and with facts. Next time you go to Ethiopia please, do your homework before you open your mouth and don’t give the wrong information to the world. Ethiopia deserves respect during this difficult time not trashing by incompetent journalist. Trust me getting the facts will give you credibility and peace of mind in whatever you do in life; lying is nothing but distraction to everyone. You can ask any ordinary person in Ethiopia if Mr. Meles Zenawi was a dictator or not? I can assure you the answer will be not authoritarian nor dictator because Ethiopians know first-hand what a dictator looks like. You cannot lecture to Ethiopian about a dictator; we have lived for 17 years under a dictator regime, not in theory or in text book but in real life. These days are over thank you very much.

Perhaps Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was a dictator because his objectives were to reduce and eliminate poverty in Ethiopia; he fought his entire life selflessly for the betterment of his people. Perhaps that is a threat to the west and may be that qualified him the title "dictator" in the eyes of Ms. Erin Burnet. The world knows Ethiopia’s economy is growing double digit every year for the last two decades.

Ethiopia is building many dams and perhaps that is a threat to some western countries because Ethiopia is heading to become a middle income country in a short time, towards self-reliance. I would think the United States would be happy for Ethiopia as an ally, at least, but not according to Ms. Erin Burnet.

Ethiopia’s infrastructure, telecommunications, transportations amongst many other developments has grown rapidly under the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Perhaps that’s your really complain and your reasoning to call the dear late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi a "dictator" because the people who are helping are "Chinese". You sounded bitter when you reported about the Chinese. You don’t like the Chinese are helping building Ethiopia or Mr. Meles Zenawi is a dictator? Which one is it? You cannot have it both ways. Perhaps it is about

envy that you didn’t see Americans taking advantages of the developments in Ethiopia. Ethiopia welcomes everyone with good intentions with open arms, let alone Americans. However, Ethiopians don’t allow any Invader in any form or shape, just to warren you.

Ms. Erin Burnet, please use your common sense about the airport situations. I have been in many airports and I have never seen anyone passes the security or check points other than the passengers. You should not have expected any different. In terms of your claim that people were standing outside when it was raining, this is news to me. I was there three yours ago and there were indoor waiting areas where people can wait for their love ones to arrive or depart.

At the same token, have you been to the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia? If you had I am sure you have seen where the people are waiting. People are literally waiting on the street. Did you forget to report about that or it is ok because that’s American policies?

Ms. Erin Burnet you sound bitter and that has prevented you from reporting the truth. Next time you do report about Ethiopia please double check the facts before you let the World know a false propaganda. The World is watching especially now during the difficult time. Also how cruel and insensitive can you be when a country of over 80 million people are mourning you decided to report such a fabricated and ridiculous report? The least you can do is admit your mistakes and apologize to the Ethiopian people and to the government of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian people are forgiven, you if you admit your mistakes.

Best regards