In this country, some aristocratic families automatically categorize persons with dark skin, thick lips, and kinky hair as Barias [Amharic for slave]... let it be clear to everybody that I shall soon make these ignoramuses stoop and grind corn!

From now on you must pray for your people and yourself three times a day.

I am a revolutionary my life is dedicated to freeing the people.

Mengistu is a barbaric and cruel creature who becomes happy with the death of human beings.

We thought that the proletariat would eventually run the world. But it is the Americans who have assumed that position... The American people have changed.

Henceforth we will tackle our enemies that come face to face with us and we will not be stabbed in from behind by internal foes. To this end, we will arm the allies and comrades of the broad masses without giving respite to reactionaries, and avenge the blood of our comrades double - and triple - fold.

I'm a military man, I did what I did only because my country had to be saved from tribalism and feudalism. If I failed, it was only because I was betrayed. The so-called genocide was nothing more than just a war in defence of the revolution and a system from which all have benefited.

Mengistu seemed to symbolize the revolution. He was the baria, the slave who overthrew the master, the member of the conquered tribe who got even with the conquerors, the poorly educated son of a servant who rose against the intellectual elite.