Addis Ababa, May 28, 2011 – Close to one million Addis Ababa city residents from all parts of the city gathered at Mesqel Square today and colorfully celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Ginbot 20 (May 28).Residents from all ages and sections of the society began marching to the iconic square early in the morning from all 10 sub cities of the Addis Ababa City Administration. Chanting and dancing, the mass expressed support for the construction of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and vowed to eradicate poverty from Ethiopia.
“I never felt happier than the day when the Derg regime was removed from power and the day I heard the news of the construction of the Renaissance Dam on Abay [River],” said the 82 year old Mekonnen Zegeye, member of Ethiopian Patriots Association.
While the organizers wait for the guest of honors to arrive, the crowed were kept entertained with songs of nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia and songs written on the river Nile.
A helicopter from the Ministry of Defense (MoD), hovering over the joyful crowed, sent its congratulatory messages on the twentieth anniversary of the downfall of the Derg regime and the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on flying leaflets.
Just before the day’s program was officially opened, the crowed was joined by guest of honor of the day, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and First Lady Azeb Mesfin. They received a warm welcome from the cheering crowed which filled the square.
“We are determined to finalize the great renaissance dam ahead of schedule with the minimum possible cost,” Meles said in his address, receiving a roar of applause from the overjoyed crowed.
High ranking officials, including Kuma Demeksa, Mayor of Addis Ababa city, Abadula Gemeda and Kassa Tekleberhan, speakers of House of Peoples Representatives and House of Federation, respectively and diplomats were also in attendance.
Addressing the crowed ahead of the Prime Minister, Mayor Kuma said that Ginbot 20 is a day in which the basis for democracy, peace and unity was laid in Ethiopia.
“Ethiopians were deprived of their human and democratic rights during the previous regimes,” Kuma said.
Religious institutions also took the opportunity to commemorate the day in which they said religious freedom was guaranteed in the constitution.
“In the previous regime religious freedom was unthinkable,” Hussien kemal, a Muslim participant, told WIC. “Thanks to Ginbot 20, I am freely exercising my religious freedom”.
A number of deacons, priests and religious followers from the orthodox Christian churches in the city were also seen celebrating the day. One of them, Yakob Woldehawaria, said: “There is religious tolerance in our country and this is without doubt one fruit of Ginbot 20”.
Another participant, Alemayehu Tafesse (Cpt.), who works in the Defense Logistics Department at the MoD, said the day is a day in which Ethiopia began to build its name for democracy, peace and stability, political recognition as well as rapid economic growth. This was a sentiment shared by many of the participants WIC talked to.
The square was filled with different kinds of scenes. People dressed in various traditional clothes, some waving the national flag and flags of the different nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia. Costumes and artistic designs specially made to mark the occasion were common.
“I have specially designed this model of the renaissance dam to remember this historic day,” said a participant in his mid 20’s. An architect by profession, he and his friends made the replica of the model of the Renaissance Dam using waste materials such as paper and pieces of wood.
source..waltainfo.com
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