Mekki Elmograbi
Email: makkimag@gmail.com
Date: 16/04/2013
I read an article on “thinkpress” website written by Salih Nur under the title: “How could a Lasting Peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea be achieved?” with the subtitle: “After more than a decade of low-level hostilities and sour relations, there are signs Eritrea and Ethiopia could be ready to talk again”. The approach of the writer is optimistic and positive but I didn’t read any article for the writer before. This article is clearly written and to the point. The strangest thing in his article and many other articles is that most of writers avoided commenting on South Sudan’s mediation between Ethiopia and Eritrea. No mentioning for this initiative in African media at all! I made very positive comments on this initiative even during the military tension between Sudan and South Sudan because I was sure at that time that the tension will not lead the two countries to a new cycle of wide range military conflict. After 25 years of civil war, no more war; Sudanese people in North and in South will not support war initiators and will not give extremists any other chance.
According to my point of view, Salih’s article highlighted the realistic part of the “problem and the solution”:
(… This narrow approach was exacerbated by a flawed arbitration process which focused in on legal matters rather than political disagreements. Legal methods are inherently conservative and inflexible, and the clause of Algiers Agreement which said the boundary decision would be “final and binding” left no leeway for cooperation – instead, it propelled both parties into a zero-sum game)
The writer highlighted the economic side of the problem:
(Any peace initiative should go beyond previous negotiations in seeking a comprehensive settlement of the root causes of the conflict – both economic and political. One major contention is land-locked Ethiopia’s claim of a “right of access to sea” either through incorporation of some Eritrean territory along the coast or guaranteed lease of the port of Assab. Previous fears that Ethiopia could claim access to the sea by military force make Eritrea’s insistence that Ethiopia unconditionally respect Eritrea’s territorial sovereignty all the more salient. The lease of Assab to Ethiopia would likely be in Eritrea’s economic interest, but a history of Ethiopian (previously Abyssinian) attempts to annex the country mean mistrust is high. Any peace effort must come up with an intelligent way to address this and other complex issues.
The first step in answering this question is to examine why the Algiers Agreement failed. On the one hand, there is some truth to the argument that neither Ethiopia nor Eritrea had any real interest in the process to begin with. But at the same time, there was also a multitude of real and complex issues which hindered any possible reconciliation)
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Behind the Ethnic Cleansing in Benishangul-Gumuz (Fekade Shewakena)
The despicable and barbaric action of targeting, evicting and deporting ethnic Amaharas from the Benishangul-Gumuz ethnic state in western Ethiopia is a horrific crime and a crime against humanity by any measure and the outrage of Ethiopians across the world is justified. The stories we hear from the victims themselves and the witnesses who saw it are heart wrenching. Thanks to social media and communication technology, we are hearing from the victims themselves and seeing some of their tragic pictures in real time irrespective of where we live. Thanks to the folks at ESAT TV and Radio for the relentless coverage. I have even heard many supporters of the Ethiopian regime, at least those who live outside of Ethiopia, condemn this barbarism. They should be applauded for that. What kind of sane person cannot be outraged when watching this replay of a Nazi pogrom that targets an ethnic group who were literally frog-marched and, in the words of the victims themselves, told to go to “their country” and “wherever their ancestors were born”? What do you feel when you are told this nonsense in your own country, the country your fathers and forefathers defended and died for? The victimized ethnic Amharas were beaten, violently dragged off their homes and forced to pay for the trucks that packed them inhumanely, transported them out of the Benishangul Gumuz state, and dump them at the edge of another ethnic homeland without anything to help them stay even for a day. The government has not even denied or confirmed reports that one truck loaded with more than sixty people had overturned at night and fifty nine deportees were killed. We heard that women were giving birth in the wilderness and children died of suffocation. What kind of decent human being would watch this unconscionable action of a government do this to its own people, particularly to the most vulnerable and not get outraged?
While we are at it, it is good to know that this is a part of Ethiopia where even Sudanese nationals related to tribes inside Ethiopia freely move in and out as they wish and depending on the season of their comfort. Note also that the Amharas are not a minority in this ethnic region. Based on the 2007 census, Amharas with 21.8% are the second largest ethnic group among six other ethnic groups inhabiting the area. The largest ethnic group, the Berta, is only slightly larger than the Amhara at 25.4%. Important to note is also that the Amhara are allowed only to elect officials to all levels of government but cannot be elected themselves – democracy Ethiopian style. And lo and behold, this is the area where we are building the huge Nile Dam that we are being asked to contribute money for and that Sudan and Egypt hate like the plague.
Only the Ethiopian government media thinks it is hiding this horrific story. Embassies of Ethiopia’s donor countries in Addis Ababa, who tirelessly tell us how they care for civilization and human rights, have also chosen to look the other way. This barbarism is theirs too as they are underwriting it in so many ways. That may partly explain their silence. The only silver lining I found in this whole sad story is that the local, indigenous tribes and ethnic groups have not joined the officials in this crime. Many, we even heard, were sympathetic to the victims. We all need to be proud of them. They have not lost their senses even as their chiefs lost theirs.
But here is the major point. Many Ethiopians seem to miss the root cause of this crime and get outraged at the chaffs. The root cause of this ethnic cleansing and the factor that created it is embedded in the vision set out for Ethiopia by its rulers, the TPLF/EPRDF, as soon as they took power. The officials of the Benishangul-Gumuz state and those in Guraferda, Bench Maji Zone, in the Southern Ethiopia Regional State, were executing a Grand Vision imbedded in the creation of the ethnic homeland – the Killil. That is why some officials seem to be surprised by our surprise and
Reeyot Alemu: Ethiopia's Jailed Truth Teller
By Nina Strochlic, The Daily Beast
April 20, 2013
She’s spent the last 669 days languishing behind the bars of a notoriously brutal prison, but Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu has not been forgotten. On Tuesday, the 32-year-old female dissident was honored with the 2013 UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. In announcing the prize, the jury hailed her “exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression.” But no amount of international awards and public outcry have succeeded in gaining her freedom—and her medical condition is reportedly deteriorating. After recently undergoing surgery for a breast tumor, she was immediately sent back to the Kality Prison with no downtime for recovery, according to reports. Last year, the International Women’s Media Foundation bestowed a Courage in Journalism Award on Alemu in absentia for her “refusal to self-censor in a place where that practice in standard, and her unwillingness to apologize for truth-telling, even though contrition could win her freedom.” At the ceremony, the presenters read a note from Alemu that had been smuggled out of prison. “For EPRDF [Ethiopia’s ruling party], journalists must be propaganda machines,” she wrote.Alemu worked, among other roles, as a columnist for the weekly independent paper Feteh, which was later shuttered by the government. Four days before her arrest, Alemu had written a scathing critique of the ruling political party’s fundraising methods for a national dam project, and had apparently drawn parallels between late Libyan despot Muammar Gaddafi and Ethiopia’s then-Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi. (He would die a year later, in August 2012.)
On June 21, 2011, Alemu was seized from the high-school English class she taught, and placed under arrest, with reportedly no information about why she was being detained alongside another journalist and two politicians.Her outspoken criticism on political and social issues was not viewed lightly by the government, which has been notoriously suppressive of the press for decades. In 2012, the Committee to Protect Journalists named Ethiopia as one of the ten countries where press freedom suffered most.“The group was caught while plotting to sabotage electricity and telephone lines in an attempt to wreak havoc in the country,” the assistant commissioner police chief claimed.“Further investigation has also revealed that they acted to recruit others to carry out terrorist activities with support from the Eritrean government and other anti-peace groups.”The government reportedly used Alemu’s articles and a recorded phone call about a peaceful protest as evidence to charge her under a vague 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. She was sentenced her to 14 years behind bars. A year later, the sentence was commuted to five years, and an appeals court dropped two of three charges, with the promotion of “terrorist activity” as the last charge standing.Similar charges have been used against multiple journalists in Ethiopia over the past few years, including two Swedes sentenced to 11 years (but later released) for reporting on rebel groups. During three months of pretrial detention, Alemu reportedly had no access to legal counsel.“She looked fragile but she is a survivor,” said one of the Swedish journalists, of the last time he saw Alemu, in August. She is being held alongside blogger Eskinder Nega and young politicians Andualem Aragie and Natinael Mekonnen. Many other journalists have passed through the notorious prison.Alemu, refusing offers of clemency in exchange for providing information on other journalists, was punished with nearly two weeks in solitary confinement. On January 8th, an Ethiopian court upheld her five-year conviction. A few days earlier, renowned American journalists Christiane Amanpour and Cynthia McFadden wrote an open letter condemning her treatment and pleading for Alemu’s release.But Alemu is still being threatened. In early April, prison officials accused her of “disrespecting prison policies” and “planning to share information on human rights violations in Kaliti prison with the media.” They are apparently considering punishing her with solitary confinement and denying family visits, legal counsel, and medical care. In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists wrote: “Prison authorities have threatened Reeyot with solitary confinement for two months as punishment for alleged bad behavior toward them and threatening to publicize human rights violations by prison guards.”Despite rumors of deteriorating health, Alemu continues to bravely serve her time, to the reverence of supporters ranging from the international community to her own family. Reeyot's father, Ato Alemu, told reporters last year he supports his daughter’s refusal to bend to government pressure. “I would rather have her not plead for clemency,” he said, “for she has not committed any crime.”
April 20, 2013
 |
| Reeyot Alemu |
On June 21, 2011, Alemu was seized from the high-school English class she taught, and placed under arrest, with reportedly no information about why she was being detained alongside another journalist and two politicians.Her outspoken criticism on political and social issues was not viewed lightly by the government, which has been notoriously suppressive of the press for decades. In 2012, the Committee to Protect Journalists named Ethiopia as one of the ten countries where press freedom suffered most.“The group was caught while plotting to sabotage electricity and telephone lines in an attempt to wreak havoc in the country,” the assistant commissioner police chief claimed.“Further investigation has also revealed that they acted to recruit others to carry out terrorist activities with support from the Eritrean government and other anti-peace groups.”The government reportedly used Alemu’s articles and a recorded phone call about a peaceful protest as evidence to charge her under a vague 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. She was sentenced her to 14 years behind bars. A year later, the sentence was commuted to five years, and an appeals court dropped two of three charges, with the promotion of “terrorist activity” as the last charge standing.Similar charges have been used against multiple journalists in Ethiopia over the past few years, including two Swedes sentenced to 11 years (but later released) for reporting on rebel groups. During three months of pretrial detention, Alemu reportedly had no access to legal counsel.“She looked fragile but she is a survivor,” said one of the Swedish journalists, of the last time he saw Alemu, in August. She is being held alongside blogger Eskinder Nega and young politicians Andualem Aragie and Natinael Mekonnen. Many other journalists have passed through the notorious prison.Alemu, refusing offers of clemency in exchange for providing information on other journalists, was punished with nearly two weeks in solitary confinement. On January 8th, an Ethiopian court upheld her five-year conviction. A few days earlier, renowned American journalists Christiane Amanpour and Cynthia McFadden wrote an open letter condemning her treatment and pleading for Alemu’s release.But Alemu is still being threatened. In early April, prison officials accused her of “disrespecting prison policies” and “planning to share information on human rights violations in Kaliti prison with the media.” They are apparently considering punishing her with solitary confinement and denying family visits, legal counsel, and medical care. In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists wrote: “Prison authorities have threatened Reeyot with solitary confinement for two months as punishment for alleged bad behavior toward them and threatening to publicize human rights violations by prison guards.”Despite rumors of deteriorating health, Alemu continues to bravely serve her time, to the reverence of supporters ranging from the international community to her own family. Reeyot's father, Ato Alemu, told reporters last year he supports his daughter’s refusal to bend to government pressure. “I would rather have her not plead for clemency,” he said, “for she has not committed any crime.”
Ethiopia: The sorry and dangerous acts of Woyane ethnic warlords and their stooges
እባቱ ዳኛ ልጁ ቀማኛ…፣ የሌባ አይነ ደረቅ መልሶ ልብ ያድርቅ…፣ አወቅሽ አወቅሸ ሲሏት የቄሱን መፅሀፍ አጠበች… ሆኖ ቀረ የወያኔ ነገር?
by Teshome Debalke
The ruling regime of Ethiopia, Woyane is acting comical at times and more deadly other times since their beloved ethnic peddling tyrant extraordinary departed; leaving the warlords in disarray. Lost in the wonderland are the collections of stooges left to tend for themselves. With no one to guide them, the only thing holding them together seems the memory of the only tyrant they knew that left them in the middle of a dead-end road with no return address and the loot he help them accumulate for two decades.
It isn’t unusual for an average house of tyranny to be frightened when its self inflected demise approaches faster than it expects. Some tyrannies reverse gear and pretend to present themselves with the best behavior they can master to fool the world. Others panic and get nastier than ever and go on in a killing spree until the end. Few are in complete chaos to know what to do next and try everything; mixing nastiness and best behavior to see if they wither the storm to return back to their natural habits.
Woyane falls in the later; faking best behavior in series of propaganda pieces it produce and sending its ethnic goons in harassing, jailing and killing spree in a cover of laws and security to stick around. The carrot-stick approach under the slogan of Ethnic Federalism is the genius of the street smart tyrant that created ethnic victims’ club with hand picked ethnic warlords as members to victimize the people in submission. To his credit, short of everything in good leadership, the late tyrant Melse Zenawi accomplished one thing; brought together a collection of corrupt ethnic warlords to sustain a self-declared minority ethnic rule over the majority. For his brilliant work his foreign constituency gave him a vote of confidence and lots of money to finance his atrocity and corruption.
Street smart tyrants like Melse can disarm their foes with sharp mouth playing victim and righteous at the same time. They jump with frenzy in their comfort zone but when they sense danger to their power or cornered with facts they are deadly or the fastest mammals to run for safety.
Another characteristic of street smart tyrants is they pick up superficial knowledge to cover their weaknesses and surround themselves with street bullies for protection in case their crime caught up with them or with the lowest IQ they can find for to cheer them on. It makes them feel better about themselves. If they are ethnic peddling tyrants like Melse Zenawi it gets more complicated because the gangs that surround them not only must be corrupt bullies with lowest intelligence but, the same ethnic affiliations as the tyrants to insure they have no where to go but live-and-die with their tyrants.
Therefore, absence of street smart ethnic tyrant, Woyane lived and died with Melse Zenawi, nothing more to it. It was a one-man show surrounded by many clueless and loyal ethnic warlords and spectators clapping their hands while fattening their pocket book as a reward to remain in the fold. Since Melse’s death expect lots more dramas and atrocities to come until the disoriented ethnic warlords run in all direction. The drama to revive the only street wise Woyane tyrant is for the sake of the clueless warlords to go on with their lives without making too much wave exposing Woyane and themselves to the world.
From Funeral to Foundation
The Woyane kingpin’s funeral extravaganza was like a funeral of a mob boss that died unexpectedly. It left the frantic ethnic warlords wondering who would lead them to sustain their quest to rob the nation. Holding on the dead tyrant; wishing he will resurrect back anytime soon they waited until it dawn on them he is gone for good. Even his closet warlords didn’t know his death for several
The ruling regime of Ethiopia, Woyane is acting comical at times and more deadly other times since their beloved ethnic peddling tyrant extraordinary departed; leaving the warlords in disarray. Lost in the wonderland are the collections of stooges left to tend for themselves. With no one to guide them, the only thing holding them together seems the memory of the only tyrant they knew that left them in the middle of a dead-end road with no return address and the loot he help them accumulate for two decades.
Some of TPLF ‘Mafia group’ that remained to bleed the people of Ethiopia
Woyane falls in the later; faking best behavior in series of propaganda pieces it produce and sending its ethnic goons in harassing, jailing and killing spree in a cover of laws and security to stick around. The carrot-stick approach under the slogan of Ethnic Federalism is the genius of the street smart tyrant that created ethnic victims’ club with hand picked ethnic warlords as members to victimize the people in submission. To his credit, short of everything in good leadership, the late tyrant Melse Zenawi accomplished one thing; brought together a collection of corrupt ethnic warlords to sustain a self-declared minority ethnic rule over the majority. For his brilliant work his foreign constituency gave him a vote of confidence and lots of money to finance his atrocity and corruption.
Street smart tyrants like Melse can disarm their foes with sharp mouth playing victim and righteous at the same time. They jump with frenzy in their comfort zone but when they sense danger to their power or cornered with facts they are deadly or the fastest mammals to run for safety.
Another characteristic of street smart tyrants is they pick up superficial knowledge to cover their weaknesses and surround themselves with street bullies for protection in case their crime caught up with them or with the lowest IQ they can find for to cheer them on. It makes them feel better about themselves. If they are ethnic peddling tyrants like Melse Zenawi it gets more complicated because the gangs that surround them not only must be corrupt bullies with lowest intelligence but, the same ethnic affiliations as the tyrants to insure they have no where to go but live-and-die with their tyrants.
Therefore, absence of street smart ethnic tyrant, Woyane lived and died with Melse Zenawi, nothing more to it. It was a one-man show surrounded by many clueless and loyal ethnic warlords and spectators clapping their hands while fattening their pocket book as a reward to remain in the fold. Since Melse’s death expect lots more dramas and atrocities to come until the disoriented ethnic warlords run in all direction. The drama to revive the only street wise Woyane tyrant is for the sake of the clueless warlords to go on with their lives without making too much wave exposing Woyane and themselves to the world.
From Funeral to Foundation
The Woyane kingpin’s funeral extravaganza was like a funeral of a mob boss that died unexpectedly. It left the frantic ethnic warlords wondering who would lead them to sustain their quest to rob the nation. Holding on the dead tyrant; wishing he will resurrect back anytime soon they waited until it dawn on them he is gone for good. Even his closet warlords didn’t know his death for several
U.S. Department of State 2012 Report Slams Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a federal republic. On August 20, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi died. The ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) elected then deputy prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn to take Meles’s place as chairman of the party. The EPRDF subsequently nominated him for the post of prime minister. On September 21, parliament elected Hailemariam as prime minister. In national parliamentary elections in 2010, the EPRDF and affiliated parties won 545 of 547 seats to remain in power for a fourth consecutive five-year term. Although the relatively few international officials allowed to observe the elections concluded technical aspects of the vote were handled competently, some also noted that an environment conducive to free and fair elections was not in place prior to the election.Security forces generally reported to civilian authorities; however, there were instances in which special police and local militias acted independently of civilian control.
The most significant human rights problems included restrictions on freedom of expression and association through politically motivated trials and convictions of opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers, as well as increased restrictions on print media. In July security forces used force against and arrested Muslims who protested against alleged government interference in religious affairs. The government continued restrictions on civil society and nongovernmental organization (NGO) activities imposed by the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO).
Other human rights problems included arbitrary killings; allegations of torture, beating, abuse, and mistreatment of detainees by security forces; reports of harsh and at times life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; detention without charge and lengthy pretrial detention; a weak, overburdened judiciary subject to political influence; infringement on citizens’ privacy rights, including illegal searches; allegations of abuses in the implementation of the government’s “villagization” program; restrictions on academic freedom; restrictions on freedom of assembly, association, and movement; alleged interference in religious affairs; limits on citizens’ ability to change their government; police, administrative, and judicial corruption; violence and societal discrimination against women and abuse of children; female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C); exploitation of children for economic and sexual purposes; trafficking in persons; societal discrimination against persons with disabilities; clashes between ethnic minorities; discrimination against persons based on their sexual orientation and against persons with HIV/AIDS; limits on worker rights; forced labor; and child labor, including forced child labor.
Impunity was a problem. The government, with some reported exceptions, generally did not take steps to prosecute or otherwise punish officials who committed abuses other than corruption.
Factions of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), an ethnically based, violent, and fragmented separatist group operating in the Somali Region, were responsible for abuses. Members of the separatist Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front (ARDUF) claimed responsibility for a January attack on a group of foreign tourists in the Afar Region.
Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from:
Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
Ginbot 7 Democratic: Can You Put up or…
by Ersasu Mere
For several decades, Ethiopians have been yearning for democracy, equality and the prevalence of the rule of law. Citizens from every walk of life, groups and parties are confronting the brutal and dictatorial Ethiopian regime to change its political discourse towards the implementation of a democratic system that honors and respects its people and reserve their right to live happily and speak freely. To our chagrin, in spite of tremendous effort and sacrifice, our aspiration to see a responsible government has not been brought into fruition. One can recite a laundry list of reasons for our failure. I think we all agree that amongst all the causes that perpetuate the undemocratic life of the ruling government, the opposition parties’ lack of compromise to work together and to galvanize the general public to one direction is the bitter reality we all have a hard time to swallow. In our recent history, it almost has become a fad that opposition parties are prone to split and that most likely will lead them to their own eventual demise. In the meantime, it sad to see the agony and the emotional distress the compatriots are going through. It is in our freshest memory to remember how we were indulged to relive the excruciating emotional pain and utter despair caused by the Kinjit debacle. With the advent of Ginbot 7, we hoped the days of political bickering to nourish individual or group interests and the days of distraction from within are over.
However, most us felt that our hope has been dashed when we heard that there are some groups from Ginbot 7 leadership who allegedly claim to have differences with the main governing body. Although, this splinter group, Ginbot 7 Democratic, vented their grievances through unfriendly channels, the very fact that they have opposing opinions on political strategy and party organization cannot rattle nerves. Thanks to Aigaforum website (pun intended), I have heard the splinter group’s statements and its leader’s interview for a certain Paltalk forum. To put it succinctly, their main opposition revolves around three major issues. The group is adamantly opposed to courting Shabia in the struggle against Weyane. This issue has been divisive and controversial but as an insider and part of the leadership, it was up to their task to debate and convince their fellow friends so that their idea comes out as a winner. Ideally, most of us feel uneasy with notion of collaborating with Ethiopian archenemy, Shabia. But if the leaders have sought the wisdom and weigh in the strategically advantageous outcome, we should give in to their scheme. After all, isn’t it the old adage that tells us that the end justifies the means?
Another issue of misgiving, we are told, was the systematic manipulation of Ginbot 7 leaders to exclude ethnic Amaharas from the top notch positions and instead open their arms for their buddies and cronies who are ethnically bonded with them. Readers, isn’t that sickening? On the Paltalk interview, one of founders of Ginbot 7 democratic, by the name of Gashaw, apparently an Amahara was holding an executive position until he excluded himself out of the party. On that interview, he admitted that the majority of Ginbot 7 members are Amaharas. In that case, one could ask, the reason for why he was disgruntled was because all the leadership was not given to Amaharas. You see folks; this was the kind of mind set we were trying to avoid by organizing ourselves against Weyane, the champion of ethnic politics. Mr. Gashaw does not even like the idea of joining forces with other opposition parties like OLF. It is hard for me to say that Gashaw does not understand the enormity of our struggle that begs the creation of broad based coalition. I do not see why this splinter group do not like more and more people joining Ginbot 7 and even assume the leadership position . Ginbot 7 is a party for all. You are not different from anybody else. As long as a person shares our principle and vision and is ready to commit his time and other resources, we should warmly welcome him. In this sprit, I do not comprehend the reason why this group does not like the ascension of well known individuals to Ginbot 7 leadership. Do you think ferociously opposing Weyane or even becoming a victim of the atrocious Weyane rule gives anyone the entitlement to lead an opposition party? If you believe you have a lot to give, please continue giving and be happy when others are willing to give as well. Remember, through this struggle, you are into it to liberate yourself first and you have no business in blocking others whenever they are ready to do it for themselves.
In that same interview, there was a barrage of attacks against ESAT and Tamagne Beyene. I thought this attack was callous and uncalled for. Mr. Gashaw was telling that based on his insider information he knows that ESAT was founded by Ginbot 7 and he went on further concluding that ESAT is still run by it. My initial reaction was to say’ so what?’ The last time I recall such allegation was coming from the Weyane Camp. It was crystal clear why that was happening. ESAT has become a pain in the rear for Weyane. People who knew will tell you that Weyane has spent millions of dollars to block ESAT and it is still spending. Unless you have a problem with what ESAT is doing you should say thank you to Ginbot 7. That is what we would have said to Ginbot 7 if we knew that it has
For several decades, Ethiopians have been yearning for democracy, equality and the prevalence of the rule of law. Citizens from every walk of life, groups and parties are confronting the brutal and dictatorial Ethiopian regime to change its political discourse towards the implementation of a democratic system that honors and respects its people and reserve their right to live happily and speak freely. To our chagrin, in spite of tremendous effort and sacrifice, our aspiration to see a responsible government has not been brought into fruition. One can recite a laundry list of reasons for our failure. I think we all agree that amongst all the causes that perpetuate the undemocratic life of the ruling government, the opposition parties’ lack of compromise to work together and to galvanize the general public to one direction is the bitter reality we all have a hard time to swallow. In our recent history, it almost has become a fad that opposition parties are prone to split and that most likely will lead them to their own eventual demise. In the meantime, it sad to see the agony and the emotional distress the compatriots are going through. It is in our freshest memory to remember how we were indulged to relive the excruciating emotional pain and utter despair caused by the Kinjit debacle. With the advent of Ginbot 7, we hoped the days of political bickering to nourish individual or group interests and the days of distraction from within are over.However, most us felt that our hope has been dashed when we heard that there are some groups from Ginbot 7 leadership who allegedly claim to have differences with the main governing body. Although, this splinter group, Ginbot 7 Democratic, vented their grievances through unfriendly channels, the very fact that they have opposing opinions on political strategy and party organization cannot rattle nerves. Thanks to Aigaforum website (pun intended), I have heard the splinter group’s statements and its leader’s interview for a certain Paltalk forum. To put it succinctly, their main opposition revolves around three major issues. The group is adamantly opposed to courting Shabia in the struggle against Weyane. This issue has been divisive and controversial but as an insider and part of the leadership, it was up to their task to debate and convince their fellow friends so that their idea comes out as a winner. Ideally, most of us feel uneasy with notion of collaborating with Ethiopian archenemy, Shabia. But if the leaders have sought the wisdom and weigh in the strategically advantageous outcome, we should give in to their scheme. After all, isn’t it the old adage that tells us that the end justifies the means?
Another issue of misgiving, we are told, was the systematic manipulation of Ginbot 7 leaders to exclude ethnic Amaharas from the top notch positions and instead open their arms for their buddies and cronies who are ethnically bonded with them. Readers, isn’t that sickening? On the Paltalk interview, one of founders of Ginbot 7 democratic, by the name of Gashaw, apparently an Amahara was holding an executive position until he excluded himself out of the party. On that interview, he admitted that the majority of Ginbot 7 members are Amaharas. In that case, one could ask, the reason for why he was disgruntled was because all the leadership was not given to Amaharas. You see folks; this was the kind of mind set we were trying to avoid by organizing ourselves against Weyane, the champion of ethnic politics. Mr. Gashaw does not even like the idea of joining forces with other opposition parties like OLF. It is hard for me to say that Gashaw does not understand the enormity of our struggle that begs the creation of broad based coalition. I do not see why this splinter group do not like more and more people joining Ginbot 7 and even assume the leadership position . Ginbot 7 is a party for all. You are not different from anybody else. As long as a person shares our principle and vision and is ready to commit his time and other resources, we should warmly welcome him. In this sprit, I do not comprehend the reason why this group does not like the ascension of well known individuals to Ginbot 7 leadership. Do you think ferociously opposing Weyane or even becoming a victim of the atrocious Weyane rule gives anyone the entitlement to lead an opposition party? If you believe you have a lot to give, please continue giving and be happy when others are willing to give as well. Remember, through this struggle, you are into it to liberate yourself first and you have no business in blocking others whenever they are ready to do it for themselves.
In that same interview, there was a barrage of attacks against ESAT and Tamagne Beyene. I thought this attack was callous and uncalled for. Mr. Gashaw was telling that based on his insider information he knows that ESAT was founded by Ginbot 7 and he went on further concluding that ESAT is still run by it. My initial reaction was to say’ so what?’ The last time I recall such allegation was coming from the Weyane Camp. It was crystal clear why that was happening. ESAT has become a pain in the rear for Weyane. People who knew will tell you that Weyane has spent millions of dollars to block ESAT and it is still spending. Unless you have a problem with what ESAT is doing you should say thank you to Ginbot 7. That is what we would have said to Ginbot 7 if we knew that it has
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