Meles Zenawi's humiliation at Columbia University

Meles Zenawi’s humiliating presence at Columbia University; Bollinger was a no show

By Protest Organizing Comittee:

On Wednesday Sep 22, several hundred Ethiopians came from Washington, New York, Boston,
Delaware, New Jersey and Connecticut to protest against the invitation of Tyrant Meles Zenawi to speak
at Columbia University. The protesters carried the Ethiopian tricolor, posters showing the massacred
Ethiopians by Zenawi’s forces, poster size photos of the jailed leader Ms. Birtukan Mediksa, as well as
placards and slogans that read and chanted the following messages: No forum for Meles at Columbia
University, Columbia say no to Meles, Shame on Bollinger for inviting A Tyrant, Shame on Stigliz and
Sachs, Free Birtuakn Mediksa, Meles is a fascist, Meles is war criminal, A Genocider, A Tyrant, a
child killer! Say no to Meles, the butcher!

Inside the Lerner Hall, a venue that was changed at the last minute, Ethiopian dictator Meles Zenawi
was to give a speech on the topic “The Current Global Environment and its Impact in Africa”.
Attending the event were young college students. Senior academics and professors Zenawi would have
likely to have in his audience did not appear to be interested as there were few. Similarly conspicuous by
their absence were senior African experts or scholars--which would have surprised, given the topic, if it
weren't for the questionable choice of the speaker, and the resulting controversy, which may lead
African representatives to stay away. According to one of the protest organizers, the dictator' speech
appeared to have been reviewed by Joseph Stiglitz--his close confidant and tight friend--as it was
primarily focusing on Stiglitz's pet issue, "Neo-Liberalisim". Zenawi’s 20 minute long lackluster lecture
on "Neo-Liberalism" and African economic growth was followed by a Q & A. The young audience
pressed the dictator with questions related to the recent rigged and sham election, freedom of speech and
freedom of the press in Ethiopia, and any regrets he may have as a ruler.

Meles was introduced by Provost Claude Steele—standing in for another conspicuously absent figure:
University President Lee Bollinger, who failed to show up (see Prof. Bhagwati's comment (go to
10:35am) on the need for Mr. Bollinger to stay away in order to convey an important statement and to
distance Columbia University from any association with the Ethiopian dictator). Provost Claude Steele
strengthened Bollinger's gesture through his absence, by emphasizing that Columbia University does not
endorse Zenawis policies and speech.

Following Provost Claude Steele's remarks, Meles Zenawi's buddy Joseph Stiglitz made an
unexpectedly and surprisingly brief introduction. He opened with a discussion of Africa’s recent “lost
decades.” “Africa was explicitly abandoned,” he said, adding that it was considered a “continental
ghetto of a fast globalizing world.” But, “the first decade of the 21st century marks one of change for
Africa,” he said, adding that there has been a high growth rate in the country. Now, Africans have the
chance to generate growth themselves, he said. “The fact that Africans now have a choice is …
fundamentally liberating. The challenge is to use the unique global environment…to forge a new and
more inclusive globalization,” he added. Some observers argue that the brevity of Stieglitz introduction
seems to be a direct result of the profound public pressure and denunciation of his conduct in promoting

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a ruthless dictator, leading him to cut to the shortest possible length as regard to his customary
accolades he otherwise may have liked o shower on Zenawi.

During the question and answer session, no one appeared to be interested in Zenawi's anti-neo-liberal
cheap talk. With the exception of two individuals, all questions and criticism that were raised had direct
links to current desperate state of Ethiopia and its politics. Audience members raised many criticisms
against the brutal dictator and his regime. One audience member asked how Zenawi was able to get 99.6
percent of the votes in the last Ethiopian election, a question that was met with applause from the room.
“We got 99.6 percent of the seats,” not the votes, Zenawi responded, adding a tedious and rather (in the
Ethiopian context) irrelevant technicalities about voting and electoral procedures. He appeared arrogant
as well as evasive, trying to lecture his audience about democracy and term limits, despite the political
oppression and his extensive longevity in power, 20 long years.

For Meles Zenawi and his posies, this event was originally meant to be a golden opportunity for Meles
to bask in the rarefied intellectual space of this prestigious institution of higher learning, with two
important professors of Columbia as his close confidants amplifying this effect throughout the
institution. Instead, the passion, time, energy, and resources put on display by patriotic Ethiopians from
around the United States and beyond, and the activists organizing this event, completely transformed the
character of Meles' visit to Columbia. The event was transformed as a moment of humiliation and
embarrassment for Meles in the hands of attendees who asked pointed questions about the atrocities he
and his regime have been committing. The loud voices of vigorous protest by Ethiopians and non-
Ethiopians alike resonated to all of Columbia and the rest of the world that this has been an abominable
pick on the part of the university's president. Even before this day of reckoning had come for Meles
Zenawi, the high-energy campaign by Ethiopians has made all of Columbia University --newspapers,
student groups, faculty members and others realize the true nature of this dictator.

Anywhere where Ethiopians reside in the U.S. and Europe (and even where they don't reside, since they
can travel there) will no longer be a welcome place for Meles. In this country of freedom, Meles Zenawi
will not be able to escape the discomfort and humiliation of being exposed for the cruel and ruthless
dictator that he is.

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