The Voice of America has officially addressed our concerns regarding the factual inaccuracies in that interview. We successfully held them accountable for the historical distortions broadcasted to the public. Keep a close eye on their future programming to ensure these standards remain upheld.
April 10, 2016
Complaint against Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia’s interview on the Voice of America Tigriagna program
Final supporters
Subject- Complaint against Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia’s interview on the Voice of America Tigriagna program
We, Amharas (one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia), are making this online petition against Adjunct Associate Professor Ghelawdewos Araia, who is working at Lehman College in African and African-American Studies. The Professor has given an interview on 24 March 2016 to the Voice of America Radio Program in Tigrigna language. During his interview, he cited a book originally written in The Portuguese language by Manoel Barradas and translated to English by Elizabel Filleul. The book is translated into English language and titled as ‘Tractatus tres historico-geographici (1634): A seventeenth century historical and geographical account of Tigray, Ethiopia (Aethiopistische Forschungen)’
In the interview, the Professor deceived the radio listners by deliberately twisting a true historical account recorded by the original writer. He said that the Tigray province of Ethiopia in the 17th C has been large enough to include the Wolkite Tegede area (an area which is forcefully annexed by the current ruling party from its original owner- the Amhara people). As it is clearly depicted in the first chapter of the above-cited book, the Tekeze River has bounded the Tigray Province, and the Province has never transcended beyond the Tekeze River to include the Wolkite Tegede territory. Despite the clear language that the writer has put the territorial limit of the Tigray Province, the Professor has shown a propensity towards the illicit territorial claims of the ethnic group that he belongs. And in fact, it is an apology for the people that has been committing grave human rights violations against the Wolkite Tsegede Amhara People for the last four decades.
The Professor has inaccurately cited the book to favor his ethnic group and to vilify the legal claim of the Wolkite Tegede Amhara people who has been living in the area since time immemorial. As an academician, his role should have been opening a platform for discussion and accurately referring an authority to underpin his views, or rather claims for that matter. However, for the sake of the Tigray ethnic group to which he belongs to, the Professor intentionally and unreasonably fabricated a false information out of a blue sky and claimed as if it is included in the above-cited book. Hence, the Professor compromised his academic integrity and committed an academic crime.
Therefore, the followings are our requests:
Voice of America Radio, Tigrigna language Program Department: You should consider the ramifications of such irresponsible way of reference, which will surely not go unnoticed by the public. As for the undersigned and the millions who attended the interview, we have lost confidence in the credibility of your programs. We hope you are interested in regaining this confidence and look forward to your correcting the problem. Therefore, either you can prepare another program by your own personnel to rectify the improper citation and/or request the Professor to ask an apology for his misdeeds.
Lehman College in African and African-American Studies: This specific instance is enough to question the academic integrity and impartiality of the Professor. Therefore, we request the College to investigate the case and to take measures warranted by its Rules and Regulations. Moreover, we request the college to start an investigation regarding the academic credentials and credibility of the Professor’s previous works.
Kind regards,
cc:
1. Voice of America
330 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20237
United States
2. Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Blvd W
Bronx, NY 10468
United States
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 29, 2016
March 25, 2016
We just hit one hundred signatures on this complaint. Post the link to your Facebook feed right now to keep this pressure on the administration. You need to email the department head at Lehman College today and demand they address these claims.
Reached 100 supporters
March 25, 2016
March 22, 2016
We are approaching one hundred signatures and need a final push to cross this mark. Post the petition link on your Facebook page right now. Text three people in your network and demand they add their names before this afternoon.
353 Comments
It is a great shame to hear a distorted and twisted a true story from the so called Ethiopian history proffesor. The proffesor deceived Ethiopian listners by deliberately twisting a true historical account recorded by the original portuguese writer.
Wolqite-Tegede has never been part of the province of Tigray. Even their own former king Leul Ras Mengesha Seyoum has said so in his recent interview with Esat tv. The boundary between Tigray and Gonder has always been Tekeze river.
It is really shame and highly embarassing to be caught red handed when falsifying history, at your acsdemic status, to the benefit of the party you are affiliated. I demand VOA, Tigrigna Program, to investigate this matter and tell to its Tigrean audiences the truth. Mesfin Ayalew
Academicians of all fields need to have a strong integrity as they are the major role players in creating a responsible citizens. What this scholar has done to favour the ethnic group that he belongs to amounts a robbery and shouldn't be left unchecked by all parties concerned.
He is a disgrace for his profession. He can express his opinion in whatsoever way that he believes but he twist and distort someone's original work to fit his interest. That is a disgrace for his profession.
Gheladewos is a fake doctor. He studied education (Ed.Dz) and claims he is an expert in Africsn history. Just today he lied as usual by claiming Red Sea is "Tigraians throat quencher ". He regurgitated 1700 history with exaggerated greatness of that era.
We all Amhara rememebr what makadra innnocent civil Amhara mass genocide At one day 1500 and more than Amhara peoples are killed by knives,gun shoot,stick and other tools that the tplf governemt done in it on Wolkiate Amhara peoples in their land.
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Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The Voice of America has officially addressed our concerns regarding the factual inaccuracies in that interview. We successfully held them accountable for the historical distortions broadcasted to the public. Keep a close eye on their future programming to ensure these standards remain upheld.
April 10, 2016
Complaint against Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia’s interview on the Voice of America Tigriagna program
Final supporters
Subject- Complaint against Dr. Ghelawdewos Araia’s interview on the Voice of America Tigriagna program
We, Amharas (one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia), are making this online petition against Adjunct Associate Professor Ghelawdewos Araia, who is working at Lehman College in African and African-American Studies. The Professor has given an interview on 24 March 2016 to the Voice of America Radio Program in Tigrigna language. During his interview, he cited a book originally written in The Portuguese language by Manoel Barradas and translated to English by Elizabel Filleul. The book is translated into English language and titled as ‘Tractatus tres historico-geographici (1634): A seventeenth century historical and geographical account of Tigray, Ethiopia (Aethiopistische Forschungen)’
In the interview, the Professor deceived the radio listners by deliberately twisting a true historical account recorded by the original writer. He said that the Tigray province of Ethiopia in the 17th C has been large enough to include the Wolkite Tegede area (an area which is forcefully annexed by the current ruling party from its original owner- the Amhara people). As it is clearly depicted in the first chapter of the above-cited book, the Tekeze River has bounded the Tigray Province, and the Province has never transcended beyond the Tekeze River to include the Wolkite Tegede territory. Despite the clear language that the writer has put the territorial limit of the Tigray Province, the Professor has shown a propensity towards the illicit territorial claims of the ethnic group that he belongs. And in fact, it is an apology for the people that has been committing grave human rights violations against the Wolkite Tsegede Amhara People for the last four decades.
The Professor has inaccurately cited the book to favor his ethnic group and to vilify the legal claim of the Wolkite Tegede Amhara people who has been living in the area since time immemorial. As an academician, his role should have been opening a platform for discussion and accurately referring an authority to underpin his views, or rather claims for that matter. However, for the sake of the Tigray ethnic group to which he belongs to, the Professor intentionally and unreasonably fabricated a false information out of a blue sky and claimed as if it is included in the above-cited book. Hence, the Professor compromised his academic integrity and committed an academic crime.
Therefore, the followings are our requests:
Voice of America Radio, Tigrigna language Program Department: You should consider the ramifications of such irresponsible way of reference, which will surely not go unnoticed by the public. As for the undersigned and the millions who attended the interview, we have lost confidence in the credibility of your programs. We hope you are interested in regaining this confidence and look forward to your correcting the problem. Therefore, either you can prepare another program by your own personnel to rectify the improper citation and/or request the Professor to ask an apology for his misdeeds.
Lehman College in African and African-American Studies: This specific instance is enough to question the academic integrity and impartiality of the Professor. Therefore, we request the College to investigate the case and to take measures warranted by its Rules and Regulations. Moreover, we request the college to start an investigation regarding the academic credentials and credibility of the Professor’s previous works.
Kind regards,
cc:
1. Voice of America
330 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20237
United States
2. Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Blvd W
Bronx, NY 10468
United States
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 29, 2016
March 25, 2016
We just hit one hundred signatures on this complaint. Post the link to your Facebook feed right now to keep this pressure on the administration. You need to email the department head at Lehman College today and demand they address these claims.
Reached 100 supporters
March 25, 2016
March 22, 2016
We are approaching one hundred signatures and need a final push to cross this mark. Post the petition link on your Facebook page right now. Text three people in your network and demand they add their names before this afternoon.
353 Comments
Educated people supposed to teach and tell the truth to the public,instead Dr.Gelawedios is lying while he was interviewed on VOA.the institute who hired him must be ashamed of itself,he must be fired from the university he is teaching.
It is a great shame to hear a distorted and twisted a true story from the so called Ethiopian history proffesor. The proffesor deceived Ethiopian listners by deliberately twisting a true historical account recorded by the original portuguese writer.
Wolqite-Tegede has never been part of the province of Tigray. Even their own former king Leul Ras Mengesha Seyoum has said so in his recent interview with Esat tv. The boundary between Tigray and Gonder has always been Tekeze river.
It is really shame and highly embarassing to be caught red handed when falsifying history, at your acsdemic status, to the benefit of the party you are affiliated. I demand VOA, Tigrigna Program, to investigate this matter and tell to its Tigrean audiences the truth. Mesfin Ayalew
Academicians of all fields need to have a strong integrity as they are the major role players in creating a responsible citizens. What this scholar has done to favour the ethnic group that he belongs to amounts a robbery and shouldn't be left unchecked by all parties concerned.
He is a disgrace for his profession. He can express his opinion in whatsoever way that he believes but he twist and distort someone's original work to fit his interest. That is a disgrace for his profession.
Gheladewos is a fake doctor. He studied education (Ed.Dz) and claims he is an expert in Africsn history. Just today he lied as usual by claiming Red Sea is "Tigraians throat quencher ". He regurgitated 1700 history with exaggerated greatness of that era.
We all Amhara rememebr what makadra innnocent civil Amhara mass genocide At one day 1500 and more than Amhara peoples are killed by knives,gun shoot,stick and other tools that the tplf governemt done in it on Wolkiate Amhara peoples in their land.
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Educated people supposed to teach and tell the truth to the public,instead Dr.Gelawedios is lying while he was interviewed on VOA.the institute who hired him must be ashamed of itself,he must be fired from the university he is teaching.