Turmoil in Ethiopia

In your editorial “The Tests Awaiting Ethiopia” (June 1), you have mentioned the most dire problems that Ethiopia is facing now. However, most Ethiopians are shocked and amazed by your reasons for the persistent “anti-U.S. demonstrations.” You stated that the protests broke out because many residents of the capital city were of different ethnic backgrounds than the rebels. First of all, Ethiopians are not anti-U.S., not by far. Their prayers and dreams were for U.S. involvement in bringing peace and democracy to the region. Most Ethiopians took refuge in this great country because they believed in freedom and democracy that the United States stands for.

The assumption relating the protests in Addis Ababa to ethnic differences is an insult to Ethiopians. Ethiopians of all ethnic groups are protesting the replacement of one form of dictatorship by another. They are expressing their opposition to the disintegration of their historically and culturally rich country. They are protesting the reinstatement of Marxism-Leninism. To most Ethiopians, both inside and outside of the country, the highly anticipated peace talks in London left out democratic forces whose influence is much broader than that of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. This was done with the knowledge of Herman Cohen, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs. What is worse is that there were no mediations at the London meetings.

TILAHUN YIMENU, Los Angeles