Compatriot Celebrated

Derejashworq Qitaw, a dedicated Political and Social Activist, who peacefully but fervidly fought against the Communist-Military dictatorship in Ethiopia (1974-1991) and against the subsequent occupation of the country by a Tigrean clannish force in 1992, has been celebrated yesterday in a ceremony held at First Lawn Memorial Park and the family residence at Pasadena, California.

Her struggle against the Woyanie Clannish force whose agenda is the dismantling of Ethiopia into pieces and the formation of Bantustan States, has been outlined as distinction to make her a celebrated woman of great spirit whose commitment for truth and democracy can be epitomized for the struggle at home that directs to prevail justice and democracy. The celebration took place first at First Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) where a memorial plaque dedicated by her family has been unveiled by her husband Mogus Brook and two children, Sirak and Teferi

A covenant in memory of her struggle for justice and democracy at home was also dedicated to her by compatriots who expressed their love and admiration to the contribution she made to the struggle for justice and democracy. In a brief ceremony that took place in the family residence at Pasadena, Dr. Getachew Haile described Derejash as a compassionate and kind person whose dedication to the society, friends and compatriots were paramount. He explained his experience with her and the family as wrapped with indescribable kindness, full of love and compassion. 

The covenant dedicated by her compatriots in her memory depicts her image at the center of the Tri color Ethiopian flag replacing the Lion and tearing down the Woyanie Scribble (informally referred as Ambasha). “This was the first time I saw a compatriot being celebrated this way,” says, Getenet Alebel, a dedicated supporter of the struggle for a change in Ethiopia. Dr. Getachew Mekasha referred to the image in the covenant as a “replacement of the Lion’s image during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. “It is only the lion that should be depicted in the center of the Ethiopian Flag. Derejash is a Lioness who deserves the honor of replacing the lion’s image in the Ethiopian flag,” he said. Major Tellele (rtd. EAF) expressed his admiration to the late compatriot as a protagonist who deserves the honor her compatriots has given her today.

The celebration of Derejashworq Qitaw, later caused a serious discussion on why compatriots are celebrated only on their death and ignored when they are alive? A general agreement has been reached to form a committee that studies the possibility of recognizing those Ethiopians in the Diaspora whose life is dedicated to the society.