The Illegal Overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie I by the Communist-Marxist Derg on September 12, 1974

"On the evening of September 11, 1974, the Derg announced on television: 'As a present for the New Year, we invite the emperor to a film presentation, on the Wollo Famine,' and let loose a flood of carefully orchestrated propaganda against the emperor. The next morning, Major Debela Dinsa stood before the emperor and in the name of the Derg made the speech that declared that the emperor was deposed from his throne. In response to the speech, the emperor said: 'Change takes place all the time. If the change is for the benefit of the country, it should not be superseded by anything else.' After that, glancing at Leul Ras Imiru, who had been sent by the Derg to witness the act of deposition, he walked out of the Jubilee Palace, ready to go to wherever he was to be taken. He was led into a small Volkswagen and taken to the headquarters of the Fourth Army Division. On the way, he was vilified by people who were, by pre-arrangement of the Derg, lining the streets through which he had to pass." Jembere, Aberra. Agony in the Grand Palace 1974–1982, Shama Books, Addis Ababa, 2005, pp. 14–15.

The Emperor listening to Major Debela Dinsa reading him Derg Proclamation No. 1 of 1974 attempting to illegally remove him from office, September 12, 1974 (Meskerem 2, 1967 Ethiopian Calendar).

English translation of audio recording:

Unidentified speaker: [00:07 – 00:20] The Defense Army, the Police Force and National Courts, with utmost regards to the safety and well-being of His Majesty, and considering that there is a place set up particularly for your safety and well-being; we would like to kindly beseech you to relocate to the place designated for your sake. 

[inaudible 00:37-00:46] 

HIM Emperor Haile Selassie I: [0:51] We have heard what you have said; and We have no doubt that our esteemed Armed Forces are aware of the fact that Us, being the Emperor of Ethiopia, We do not merely hold the title but also a place to be accountable to the nation and the country both in time of peace and also in default. However, in regards to inevitable changes, noting that the changes could potentially have benefits in the future, that it is impossible to deflect these benefits to something else, We have heard the statement. [inaudible 01:42]

English transcript of text seen on video:

The armed soldiers stood in a line facing the Emperor, with Debela Dinsa standing at the center of the line.

He stepped forward and saluted before producing from his pocket a speech which he read out loud to the Emperor.

The letter was a decree of the Derg removing Emperor Haile Selassie I from the Imperial Throne and charging him with abuse of power, lack of competence to continue to reign due to his advanced age, and the additional charges of embezzling the money of the people.

These "charges" were all false! The Emperor listened to the speech in silence. 

While Debela Dinsa hands were shaking throughout his reading of the speech and his fellow soldiers, although armed to the teeth, seemed awed and nervous while the Emperor sat, regal in his bearing and completely silent.

Once the speech was finished, the Emperor continued to sit completely silent looking at the soldiers.

As the nervous tension increased in the room, Ras Imru approached the Emperor and they spoke in low tones for an extended time.

Then the Emperor spoke his statement. His statement was simple and moving.

He stated that through his life, he had tired endlessly for the benefit of his country and his people....

... And that one's individual desires could not come ahead of the needs of the nation.

The Emperor's role was to lead in good times and bad, he said... And to serve his people always and without fail.

If it was determined that this was for the greater good of Ethiopia....then he would accept the decision and do what was required of him.

Minutes later, His Majesty was led out of the Jubilee Palace to a tiny blue two-door Volkswagen that was the personal car of the Emperor's chauffeur, General Lulu. "What? In there?" he asked incredulously. "Yes, in there," replied an officer courteously, as he pulled forward the front seat to enable him to squeeze into the rear. One of the soldiers kicked His Majesty's chihuahua to which the Emperor roared, "What has she done to you? You're the animal!" The driver of the Volkswagen, the Derg's First Security Chief Daniel Asfaw, later murdered the Emperor on August 27, 1975.