The Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) is a newly formed grassroots movement whose mission is to mobilize Ethiopians in the Diaspora and within Ethiopia to unite in a coalition across ethnic, regional, political, cultural, and religious lines around principles of truth, justice, freedom, the protection of human rights, equality and civility in order to bring about a more open, free and reconciled society in Ethiopia where humanity comes before ethnicity and where the same rights, opportunities and privileges are available to all because no one will be free until all are free.

The above is the Mission statement that Obang and his colleagues have framed for us all, and which I would like to engage further.

I have decided to wrap myself with this reflective statement and declare that I am proud to be part of The Solidarity movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE), a grassroots movement that elevates humanity above ethnicity, love about hate, compassion above greed, and commitment above indifference.

The statement �no one will be free until we are all free�, says it all. What is even more, Obang in a private conversation taught me that when we are born, we are not born inside the cocoon of ethnicity, nationality, or even race. We arrive in this world simply as human beings.

He is right. The destructive envelop of ethnicity and nationality with which the ethno centered Woyanne regime is perpetually playing us must stop. The ethnic misuse of space for the distinct and evil propose of ruling the Ethiopian population must end, be concerted political action, to spear headed by Ethiopians of all striped under the banner and dispassionate  leaderships of SMNE

I am happy to have joined and I am prepared to serve in any capacity that the SMNE assigns to me.

Teodros Kiros (PhD)

December 5, 2008