Issue #10
June 27th 2003.
Constitution for Resolution in the Ethiopian World Federation
by Ras Iadonis
NEW YORK, USA (June 25) - In recent days, many calls and attempts have been made by EWF members and locals to reach an "agreement" and "resolve" standing issues that are preventing full cooperation from national and international EWF locals. The major concern is that locals of the EWF which are active and functional be spared from the Federation POA upcoming legal "resolutions" in regard to the illegality charges being levelled at "Local Number One Incorporated" which it is alleged have 'misrepresented itself' for the past 8 years.
POWER-OF-AUTHORITY ISSUES & EWF CONSTITUTIONALITY
Many unnamed sources in the EWF International Council have made their voices clear and loud in recent days to the Federation POA New York representatives, Woizero Tehetena "Mimi" Girma and Ras Iadonis Tafari who are "making the case" against the accused "local number one" on behalf of the Ethiopian World Federation Incorporated since 1937 by Dr. Malaku Emmanuel Bayen. The questions posed to the POA have ranged from "authority issues" and "constitutionality" of the present and current actions in light of the upcoming "International Convention". Some members of the EWF, as well as unnamed "Council Members" have expressed hopes that a better system of operations may be put in place ASAP, yet they have also cautioned the POA Authority of the 1937 original EWF Inc. to present the necessary evidence to make the case "full legal" and to spare the countless "locals" within and outside of New York that are not responible or involved in the past eight years of "internal operations" that are being called "fraudulent" and based upon "manipulation of the vote" of the democratic Ethiopianist organization.
EWF LOCALS SUPPORT EWF-POA, YET NEED DOCUMENTATION
"Basically many of our EWF allies, the various EWF locals from coast to coast, have urged us to provide them with more information and evidence which will make the overall case more 'compelling'," said Ras Iadonis Tafari after speaking to out-of-state EWF local representatives recently, "We fully agree and see it as being necessary that all EWF locals no matter if they have been recently formed or have been active over the past few years - there are a few locals that we active to some degree even since 1991 when we helped to revitalize the Ethiopian World Federation in 1992 and thereafter - they seek that there locals are not charged along with "Local Number One" which has claimed over the years that which was not true and have mislead members and other supporting locals to follow their lead and to give their full allegiance to." It was mentioned as being a "significant development" that now EWF Locals are beginning to recognize the legitimacy and "full impact" of the "fraud" case being made and the efforts of the newly appointed Federation POAs working in cooperation with the original Pioneer Settlers Corp. and the Shashamane Administration in Ethiopia. "These EWF locals are basically saying - 'We are with you! We support the reality of the what the Power-Of-Attorney is doing'. They are asking us to one - do it legally! Two they are asking to be spared from the charges seeing they were deceived by some political moves in recent years like the alleged court decision of 1999. And three, they desire that the vital work of immigration, repatriation and the "Forward to Africa!" movement be addressed and all the locals be brought into alignment with legitimate and respected EWF Authority.
NEW REPORTS IN ETHIOPIAN NEWSPAPERS - JUNE 2003
In related news, it has been reported that the number of Rastafari in Shashamane is wavering due to the recent draught, disease and poverty in Ethiopia. Dr. Gladstone Robinson was reported in Addis Zena Ethiopian Newspaper recently as confirming these statements based upon his 40 years in Ethiopia as one of the Pioneer Settlers from the original "Back to Africa" movemant and chairperson of the African Reptriation Committee. Additionally, there are a variety of non-Federation and non-EWF groups both on and off the land that need to be cautioned about the activitities that they are conducting in "Shashamanne" name with any authority or legitimacy. These organizations who are currently raising monies in "Shashamane name", some claiming various levels of 'Rastafari associations' and other claiming undocumented "rights" and "responsibilities" be brought into proper order and procedures. "Many people are buying and selling lands in Ethiopia and others attempting to collect and solicit funds in Shashamane name that may also be brought up on charges if they will not abide by proper legal measures in place currently. We cannot allow these individuals to misrepresent us anymore. If they seek to do good, make them do it lawfully and be accountable to 'We, the Black Peoples'." This is said to include the Twelve Tribes of Israel, a one time "local" of the EWF as well as Bobo Shanti Rases represented by a one named Nathaniel in Ethiopia. "They may be doing good works and raising necessary monies," said on NYC EWF member of the "Lion of Juda" local, "yet they need to respect the proper protocol and order of business. If these monies are for Shahamane - if thats how these funds have been raised - they need to be presented to the Shashamane Land Grant Authority which is fully represented in Ethiopia and needs our collective support." Collective Security seems to be the main concern of the "Lion of Juda" local as well as the Federation POA and their supporting EWF Locals.
ALL GROUPS URGED TO NOT TO "MISREPRESENT"
Several out-of-state EWF Locals reported this matter to the EWF POA representatives in New York. These groups who claim to be working and collecting monies on behalf of Shashamane are being warned to co-opertate, support and join the Shashamane Land Grant Administration in Ethiopia as well as present their proposals to the EWF Power-of-Attorney so that we can all be "under one umbrella" and not to continue to "misrepresent" and "solicit funds" in the name of Shashamane without any legitimate connections to the representative and legal apparatus set in place since 1937, now represented by the Federation POA.
EWF POA URGES "ONE ETHIOPIAN UMBRELLA"
The EWF Power-of-Attorney in NYC representing Dr. Gladstone Robinson, SLG 1967 appointed SLG Administrator said in an interview with Ethiopian visitors today that efforts will be made to reach out to all pro-Shashamane groups as well as make legal and binding resolutions and agreements both within and without the EWF Inc. to bring all groups under "one JanTilla - under one Ethiopian Umbrella." It is hoped that these former EWF groups as well as newly formed groups such as those in Kenya, begin to respect the "order of government" that His Imperial Majesty, Haile Sellassie I has given "We, the Black Peoples of the World."
2003 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION & EWF-POA
No comment was made about the alleged "International Convention" upcoming on July 16th 2003 in New York. This yearly and "constitutional convention" is being sponsored by the "local number one" people in Brooklyn who are also being brought up on charges by the EWF POA. Some EWF Locals pledging support for a firm and binding resolution to the "conflicts of interest" have chosen to remain "locally based" as EWF groups without lending support to either party of the the issue. Yet, many of the EWF Locals expressed overwhelming willingness to support the EWF POA based upon the evidence and proof presented to date.
THE 1999 COURT RULING SAID "NOT VALID"
Concerns about the rulings in the 1999 court case were accepted as part of the briefs being prepared. However, it is said to be of little effect to what the EWF POA is doing currently because "we are representing the 1937 org of the parent body while the Brooklyn local number one re-incorporated themselves thereby breaking away from the tree. Yes, they have grafted themselves outside of the order since 1937, 1967, 1992 and the 2003 POA resolution makes that clear.
ORIGINS OF UN STATUS: LOJ LOCAL
The entire fact that they have UN status is directly attributed to the LOJ's local and Ras Iadonis Tafari's UN campaign on the behalf of the EWF since 1997/98. Yet, they couldnt even reserve one seat for the minister or inform him about the developments that our history shows LOJ was a major player. How can that promote love and good will amongst Ethiopians?"
ETHIOPIA TIMES Vol.1
