ESAT/FB photo
By
Alem Hailu G/Kristos
It is a source of comfort to reflect that however pitch dark the night is, it will be attended by daybreak.
Tyrants, who for close to three decades spawned out of the blanket of a totalitarian regime in Ethiopia, had been jamming TV and radio channels trying to reach out to Ethiopians from stations found abroad.
The stations were mainly opened by members of the diaspora community who were infuriated by the burial of democracy and the entrenchment of crony capitalism in their native land. Adding insult to injury, dictators were intimidating and detaining citizens tuning to the transmissions of such media.
Out of their thirst for information, pertaining to what is going on in their country, citizens, even those who were residing in far flung corners of the country, were putting satellite dishes atop their roofs.
On the other hand, autocrats were scouting for houses whose roofs bore such dishes. They were dismantling the dishes of corruption-impoverished citizens, most of which bought the dishes bending backwards. At this juncture, it is necessary to reflect that hunger for information is worse than hunger for bread.
Also, journalists that were working for such media were dubbed terrorists in a frantic bid to hush them up or intimidate them into silence. But this attempt rather made such selfless journalists work with added vigor. These journalists parried the divisive wedges the irresponsible government tried to push among Ethiopians along religion and ethnic lines. They also exposed lechers for public ridicule.
It was siphoning the major segment of the modest income of the country tyrants were jamming the transmission of ESAT’s channels paying exorbitant prices to some developed countries who have the technological capacity. They were further plunging the country into economic morass aside from divesting citizens of key information. Sucking the lifeblood of the country to the last dregs, tyrants were engaged in a vicious cycle of jamming when Ethiopians in the diaspora came up with a quick fix raising additional funds.
All the aforementioned tragic episodes were futile bids on the part of tyrants to blindfold citizens from improprieties taking place right under their noses.
Apart from lining their pockets siphoning the government’s coffers and budgets earmarked for Mega projects, tyrants were perpetrating unheard of atrocities akin the ones that took place in Auschwitz.
Feeding Ethiopians with the right information and fanning the change spirit brewing in the country, ESAT played a gargantuan role in the birth of reform the country experienced. It is also playing an elephantine role in navigating hurdles being posed by the remnants of the barefaced tyrants that nurse a grudge for losing the opportunity of indefinitely leeching the country and soaking their filthy hands with the blood of the innocent.
As it has a go ahead from the people, was tipped by the people, won credence from and managed to grab the attention from the people, ESAT has managed to turn out one of the sought-after media among Ethiopians both here and abroad.
ESAT also played a key role in seeking solutions to Ethiopians in the Middle East while they were suffering the violations of their rights.
As a show of support to ESAT’s task of revealing the truth, Ethiopians were pulling funds and via paypal sending hard currency to ESAT.
Following the welcoming hand Dr. Abiy extended to journalists and freedom fighters, ESAT journalist have come back to Ethiopia. Some of them were in exile for two decades abroad.
No doubt the role of such media plays quite a role in further widening the political terrain, towards which the reformed government has thrown its full weight.
Following the green light Ethiopia today showed to freedom of Expression ESAT is to anchor roots here in Ethiopia.
All said ESAT, which was a standard-bearer, has to continue its task strictly adhering to the principles of journalism.
Alem Hailu G/Kristos
A published poet, novelist, editor, translator of masterpieces, literary critic, playwright and journalist from Ethiopia. M.A holder in literature, Addis Ababa University.
Looking for a traditional publisher of a collection of poems. My novel: ‘Hope from the debris of hopelessness’.
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