Viva the triumphant demo in Washington DC

by Robele Ababya

I watched the amazing demo with one of those rare moments of extraordinary elation that words cannot explain. The demo in tile by heroic Ethiopians enlightened my soul, lifted my moral beyond measure and enhanced my spirit to a new height so that I shall never relent in the fight for the freedom of individuals and the independence of their country, Ethiopia, in a political environment eternally characterized by genuine democracy, unity with equality, prosperity, tolerance, and social justice – all under the supreme rule of law.

The mammoth demo: – proved the old adage that unity is might; proved that peaceful demonstration is a significant input to an all-inclusive struggle for freedom; sent a shock-wave of fear down the spine of the thuggish leaders of the brutal regime engaged in cold-blooded murder of innocent demonstrators denying basic freedom of expression thereby violating its own constitution.

Historical bond between Christians and Muslims validated its strength by the warm embraces and kissing between the leaders and followers of the faiths. This marvelous pledge of unity brought tears of delight to my eyes as I am sure it did to millions of fellow Ethiopians that watched the demo. The barrier of apartheid and religions differences that the divisive policy of the TPLF/EPRDF satanic government sought to exploit in order to stay in power is shattered. Halleluiah!

The demo brought out the indisputable wisdom that the struggle at home is ultimately the determinant factor for victory over tyranny and that the input of the Diaspora to the process of that victory is indispensable. It proved that civil disobedience and all-inclusive struggle complement each other given the stance of the repressive regime holding monopoly over all pillars of democracy – and shutting the political space for constructive dialogue.

The legacy of openly and publicly declaring the oppositions as enemies by the late tyrant Zenawi is actively being upheld and promoted by his successor serving the TPLF warlords under duress. His government is on a crackdown spree on peaceful protestors including journalists, bloggers, and demonstrators to the extent of killing some and incarcerating others without trial. Therefore the red balloons released at the demo on 5/12/14 in Washington indeed rightly symbolized the lives irretrievably lost and precious blood shed by fellow citizens in pursuit of good governance.

Yes, we must never forget our martyrs and political prisoners at every opportunity such as the one presented by the grand demonstration in Washington DC – the capital city of the brave and free people of the United States of America as well as the citadel of democracy protected by its laws and the might of military and security organs.

Now that fellow Ethiopians have savored the inspiring taste of unity in diversity, they must pursue with redoubled effort their struggle for freedom and independence; fight for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. To that end all revolutionaries should act relentlessly and selflessly heeding the old adage capsuled in the phrase “beat the iron while it is hot”.

To big Western powers national interests come first in their international relations. Likewise do the emerging non-Western powers including China and India. So, we Ethiopians have only God and ourselves to assert our freedom and independence in the unjust, corrupt, and immoral world in which we live.

In connection with the above I would like to stress that relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt is of paramount importance, more so now that, as a result of worsening Palestinian-Israeli relations, Egypt is emerging as a strong partner fostering the interests of Western powers, Israel, and the Arab world, which is in geopolitical political turmoil.

Without further ado, I shall only point out that Ethiopians at home and in the Diaspora will find it essential to collaborate in watching Egypt taking advantage of its emerging status as a regional power and beyond that will enable it to subvert vital interests of our beloved country Ethiopia. There is a rich source of knowledge and expertise in the Diaspora in the quintessential issue of relations between Ethiopia and Egypt from which political opposition and civic societies at home can benefit.

In closing, I congratulate from the bottom of my heart the patriotic organizers and participants of the outstanding demonstration in Washington DC!

LONG LIVE ETHIOPIA

rababya@gmail.com

''U.S. has failed to hold the leaders of Ethiopia accountable for its abusive governance. America's silence in the face of egregious human rights violations and brutal oppression is perceived by Ethiopians as favoring the autocratic regime.'' Los Angeles Times

 

Aug.3,2014

When Secretary of State John F. Kerry traveled to Ethiopia last year, he met a young blogger named Natnael Feleke. When he returned a few months ago, Kerry found that Feleke, along with five other bloggers and three journalists, had been arrested — the latest in a long line of journalists the Ethiopian government has detained on the claim that they were trying to incite terrorism. Although Kerry addressed the arrests with officials he met, and President Obama has spoken forcefully on the importance of good governance in Africa, preoccupation with immediate security priorities — in particular counter-terrorism — trumps the fine words.

It is our hope that President Obama will use the summit of African leaders he is hosting this week to launch a new chapter in U.S.-African relationships — one in which support for good governance will guide U.S. policy, in deed as well as in word. If not, the result is likely to be more of the very violence and instability that counter-terrorism is supposed to curb.

In our country of Ethiopia, the government maintains a stranglehold on freedom of expression. Journalists or activists who question the ruling party or its actions face arbitrary arrests and repression. After his April visit, when Kerry made the long overdue comment that it was important for anti-terrorist mechanisms to avoid curbing the free exchange of ideas, Ethiopian democracy activists around the world were thrilled.

Yet at the same time, we know that words, even from a U.S. secretary of State, will not be sufficient to counter years of repression and disregard for human rights. The Ethiopian ruling regime — like many others in Africa — has ignored criticism from abroad; indeed, Feleke's and the other journalists' arrests came just days before Kerry's visit to Ethiopia.

Shortly after his election in 2009, Obama delivered a speech in Accra, Ghana, sketching the elements of his policy toward Africa, which involved focusing on "good governance," "the rule of law" and "civic participation."

Ethiopia, though projected by Washington as well as Addis Ababa as an important U.S. ally, violates these principles at every turn. The regime's draconian Charities and Societies Proclamation Act in essence criminalizes civil society. Under the terms of its 2009 anti-terrorism law, security forces can enter any home and seize any person or belonging. Presumed sympathy to anyone suspected of "terrorism," which is very broadly defined, is punishable by death. It was under this law that Natnael Feleke was arrested.

In spite of Ethiopia's well-documented record of oppression and corruption, it has become the biggest recipient of U.S. foreign aid in sub-Saharan Africa, receiving more than $6 billion since 2011. And to date, the U.S. has failed to hold the leaders of Ethiopia accountable for its abusive governance. America's silence in the face of egregious human rights violations and brutal oppression is perceived by Ethiopians as favoring the autocratic regime.

Such oppression, combined with systematic state corruption, have resulted in a narrow, monopolistic form of governance. Ethiopia's much-touted economic growth has mainly benefited kleptocrats, while reducing standards of living for many. In rural Ethiopia, the government has opened vast tracts of land to foreign investors from Saudi Arabia, India and China, and has also allotted enormous tracts to government-owned sugar plantations — whose returns enrich regime insiders. Large dams have flooded indigenous lands, and are creating renewed conflict over land and water resources. Such tactics are not a recipe for stability — quite the reverse.

Yet, U.S. officials seem oblivious to how the Ethiopian regime exploits its role as a key ally in America's war on terrorism to crush dissent and silence journalists and human rights activists.

Awareness of oppression in Ethiopia is growing. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) has been urging various administrations to reconsider support of the regime since the 2005 elections, when hundreds of peaceful protesters were killed. And in June 2013, Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) held a hearing called "The Future of Democracy and Human Rights" in Ethiopia.

We welcome this sort of pressure from the international community and specifically from the United States, and we believe that over the long term it can help bring about democratic change. President Obama, who is much admired in Ethiopia, should review U.S. policy and take a clear stand; his words must then be reinforced by the actions of his government.

Meron Ahadu and Lulit Mesfin are Ethiopian American democracy and human rights advocates.

Source - Los Angeles Times  Aug.3,2014