The TPLF mouthpiece (The Ehiopian Reporter)in it last two editorials (June 21 and 24, 2009)published about the need for some TPLF executives to voluntarily resign from office and about time running out for TPLF in relation to the conflict with Eritrea and Somalia, and the need for urgency and pleaded for strengthening unity.
What I had mentioned in a couple of my earlier articles regarding the crisis in the TPLF and the expected blame games and increased acts of repression and acts of confusion was not just a tale tale or a prophecy, but an accurate analyisis of the course of a dictatorship.
The aparthied-like TPLF regime nevr qualified to be an Ethiopian government. From its inception, the mission of TPLF was to weaken and destroy the country by didviding it along ethnic lines so as to bring a complete control of the minority Tigre ethnic group at the helm of state power. Over the last 18 years of its rule, TPLF has achieved this mission. TPLF members and sympathisers control everything in the country. They have amassed wealth, that could never be thought of in Ethiopia. They have have dished out Ethiopian land to neighbouring countries. They have sown seeds of animosity amongst ethnic groups, and encouraged and instigated ethnic conflicts in various parts of the country.
They still want to rule the Ethiopian people for 20-30 years, with impunity, in one way or another, as Meles wishes in his new love for "Developmental State" theory. But to deceive others, particularly the international community, they talk about holding an "election" in 2010. They even go as far as saying, there is no other way for the "opposition" except participating in the "election". And these days, hey ar also saying, they would welcome international obervers! The hoodwinking of the international community continues. But, they know for themselves and we Ethiopians know that there could not be a genuine opposition in the killing and jailing fields of TPLF's Ethiopia.
But there is an ovewhelming silent resistance and total rejection of TPLF and its miserably failed policies. Cracks from within the ruling regime are also becoming visible in recent days. Opposition groups that have organized underground in Ethiopia and are strong outside Ethiopia are also gaining ground.
To distract the attention of the international community from closely scrutinizing the repression of resisitance within Ethiopia, TPLF has, once again, rushed into Somalia, in the name of "fighting terrorism", TPLF may also ask for some more time until they win this "war of terror", how can they hand over power in the "middle of war?"
For TPLF thugs, whatever problem that exists in Ethiopia today is caused by others not them, even after 18 years of ruling!!! They have always been blaming the Emperor, the derg,opposition forces and the "vocal diaspora" for all Ethiopia's woes. And these days, they have also turned their blame on their unusual suspects, the World bank, the IMF, Western donor governments, the "silent majority diaspora", the "opportunistic majority diaspora", Sufian Ahmed of the Ministry of Finance, Teklewold Atnafu of the Central Bank, Samiya Zakaria of the Central Statistical Authority (to hoodwink the Amhara). Sure, there would be more to come in the coming dyas, weeks and months!
It is true that time has run out for TPLF. It is true that it is now ruling the country, still, under a state of emergency. It is also true that it is trying to hoodwink the people and the international community, pretending to look like ready to leaving office. That is not the way forward. The bitter pill TPLF has to swallow is stepdown and negotiate with all stakeholders in Ethiopian politics. Anything less than this may buy TPLF time, but will not save it from demise. All pleas for unity won't help, it just falls on deaf ear. You can't reap what you did not sow!! You have been divinding people all the last 18 years, and they won't just come to rescue you. Yes time is running out for TPLF!! No doubut, we would soon celebrate our victory!!!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Quest for Reconciliation: New Question or Another Rescue Operation?
I just read an artilce on the Ethiopian Reporter (ER) of June 07, 2009, where the ER quoted Prof. Gebru Tareke, saying, "Celebrating Ginbot 20 wouldn't help reconciliation", from the interview they had with the professor. And it just reminded me of many cries from senior Ethiopian citizens, asking the same questionnot, to not inflame wounds between the brotherly people of Ethiopia, just over 17 years ago, when the TPLF thugs and its sympathisers were beating their drums on Ginbot 20, humilating the Ethiopian people and the disbanded Ethiopian army.
Nobody gave an ear to that wisdom then, and the inflaming of wounds and insulting of the wider Ethiopian people continued unabetted. Hundreds of thousands of parents, who lost their children in the civil war were being forced to bow their heads in humilation, and belittled while being asked to partake in the "victory" of the few.
In fact humilating the people was not only limited to celebrating Ginbot 20, its ramifications were reflected in alieniating the wider people from the day to day running of the country, by monopolizing all critical positions in the military, civil and security institutions by peolple from Tigre Ethnic groups.
Just a few days ago, one of the founders of TPLF, Aboy Sebhat Nega, in a Radio interview with Hagerfikir in Washington, DC, said that Ginbot 20 is an everlasting festival in Ethiopia, he wants to continue humilating, not reconciling.
The humilated Ethiopian masses have now stood up and are saying enough is enough. The TPLF dictators, who always felt that they are invincible, because thier commands have always been obeyed by virtue of their bullet, and their subordinates were overwhelmed by fear, are now beginning to see the crack from within and without. Their coherence is now in tatter, and the balance of fear is shifting from the people they used to oppress, kill, maim, and jail towards their own camp. It is time within the TPLF circle, that no one trusts the other, it is time to blaming each other and, it is time to defect (if possible). In addition to TPLF's unpopularity, the military is also now defecting in masse, speeding TPLF's downfall.
Yet, I am not suggesting that there should not be reconciliation. It is long over due!! In fact, as things are going now, I don't think the TPLF will have a chance to celebrate one more Ginbot 20!! Even then, it is time to sow the seed of love and reconciliation.
But, what I am saying is that the TPLF butchers should not scape justice in the name of reconciliation. There can be no peace, democracy and development without justice.
What I am now sensing from this plea coming from the TPLF mouthpiece (Reporter) is that Meles and his colleagues are contemplating of negotiating with the opposition in exchange for amnesty. That sould never happen. Meles and Co. should be held accountable for their crime against humanity.
In the context of the foregoing explanation, I welcome the Professor's question, even though, it is not a new question and it came late. But, if it is another attempt, from an intellecual of Tigre ethnic group (I feel sad when I use this distinction), to rescue TPLF criminals from facing justice, it will no be acceptable.
Nobody gave an ear to that wisdom then, and the inflaming of wounds and insulting of the wider Ethiopian people continued unabetted. Hundreds of thousands of parents, who lost their children in the civil war were being forced to bow their heads in humilation, and belittled while being asked to partake in the "victory" of the few.
In fact humilating the people was not only limited to celebrating Ginbot 20, its ramifications were reflected in alieniating the wider people from the day to day running of the country, by monopolizing all critical positions in the military, civil and security institutions by peolple from Tigre Ethnic groups.
Just a few days ago, one of the founders of TPLF, Aboy Sebhat Nega, in a Radio interview with Hagerfikir in Washington, DC, said that Ginbot 20 is an everlasting festival in Ethiopia, he wants to continue humilating, not reconciling.
The humilated Ethiopian masses have now stood up and are saying enough is enough. The TPLF dictators, who always felt that they are invincible, because thier commands have always been obeyed by virtue of their bullet, and their subordinates were overwhelmed by fear, are now beginning to see the crack from within and without. Their coherence is now in tatter, and the balance of fear is shifting from the people they used to oppress, kill, maim, and jail towards their own camp. It is time within the TPLF circle, that no one trusts the other, it is time to blaming each other and, it is time to defect (if possible). In addition to TPLF's unpopularity, the military is also now defecting in masse, speeding TPLF's downfall.
Yet, I am not suggesting that there should not be reconciliation. It is long over due!! In fact, as things are going now, I don't think the TPLF will have a chance to celebrate one more Ginbot 20!! Even then, it is time to sow the seed of love and reconciliation.
But, what I am saying is that the TPLF butchers should not scape justice in the name of reconciliation. There can be no peace, democracy and development without justice.
What I am now sensing from this plea coming from the TPLF mouthpiece (Reporter) is that Meles and his colleagues are contemplating of negotiating with the opposition in exchange for amnesty. That sould never happen. Meles and Co. should be held accountable for their crime against humanity.
In the context of the foregoing explanation, I welcome the Professor's question, even though, it is not a new question and it came late. But, if it is another attempt, from an intellecual of Tigre ethnic group (I feel sad when I use this distinction), to rescue TPLF criminals from facing justice, it will no be acceptable.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Hell or High Water, There is no Turning Back
I don't understand why, whenever the TPLF thugs are cornered from all directions, and are at the brink of breaking, all those who were pretending to be genuine critics of the regime quickly come to their rescue? I have come to question the integrity of these people, particularly in the last couple of days, from what they have written in relation to opposition effort to explore opportunities of harnessing prospective relations with Eritrea.
Let me, bluntly, ask and challenge Dagmawi and Ethiopian Recycler, what their real objectives are when they are undermining opposition efforts and try to equate it to a tactic of power hungry individuals to come to the negotiating table?
I would also like to bluntly refute that their proposed solution to remove the TPLF dictators is not only workable, but rather would further extend their grip to power.
In an earlier article I have argued that, there is nothing wrong in working in partnership with Afeworki of Eritrea, if he has come of age and learned from his past mistakes of weakening Ethiopia. As I said earlier, leaders can make mistakes, learn from them and make a renewed commitment to rebuild a new partnership. There is no doubt that Eritrea will benefit from a friendly and strong Ethiopia in more ways than one. Or are they claiming that leaders do not learn, what so ever? As Afeworki himself said, TPLF and its sympathisers would never want any trust developing between Ethiopians and Eritreans and their leaders.
Ethiopian Recycler also argued that military solution would not work. As to me, no serious opposition would have contemplated, let alone, choose, a military solution had TPLF opened the slightest of real opportunity for opposition to function freely inside Ethiopia? The whole of the Ethiopian people and the world know what happened after the 2005 election. The space for opposition has increasingly been narrowing to a choking point, at this stage, where people are now denied to even read or listen to a different opinion. In fact, TPLF is just tabling a law in "parliament" to freely spy, torture and jail any potential real opposition to its power. So how is opposition going to "thrive" in Ethiopia, in such an environment, Sir?
Engaging dictators militarily is not a totally unacceptable option. Of recent, some liberal intellectulas have developed plausible arguments supporting the idea of entertaining the use of military power or coup de etat as a potential strategy to remove unelected dictators from power.
Ethiopian Recylcer has also proposed about putting pressure on donors not to support the TPLF thugs. We have seen how any such attempt by donors have been handled by TPLF in the past. TPLF thugs have looted plenty of wealth from the nation and any stick from donors is not going to affect them immediately. Even when suspending development assistance is used as a stick, it would be the population that would suffer, and TPLF does not worry about the suffering of people. In fact they would knowngly starve people, to force donors regreat their decision. Dictators do not easily submit to donor pressure. Also donors wouldn't go that further to force dictators out, if they have some immediate national and security interests. It should be by the people themselves that dictators have to be dealt with.
I don't think Ginbot 7 chose the startegy it chose, not by default but by design, using all strategies to get rid of TPLF from power. It is not a miscalculation at all, but rather a working strategy!! There was no need to give in to TPLF and, willingly be silenced, as the rest of the opposition at home are being treated. There is no opposition in Ethiopia today, except on the NEB("National Electoral Board)directory.
And why is calling a spade a spade seen as a hate rhetoric? Why are we trying to distance ourselves from the truth in the name of civility? Isn't it obvious that all the top brass in the military, civil and security institutions are from Tigre ethnic group? And is that just, or fair? Isn't it true that some TPLF loyalists of
Tigre ethnic groups are in control of business in Ethiopia today? Why is revealing
the truth called hate? Is it better to call a spade a spade and try to seek the medicine now, or keep silent, hide the truth underneath and let anger boil and destoy societal fabric later when it exploded. Is that the solution being proposed by Ethiopian Recycler?
Last, but not least, there have been repeated calls and there will be continued call for the general people of Tigre ethnic group and intellectuals of Tigre ethnic origin, as Ethiopians, to embrace the struggle of the Ethiopian people for freedom and democracy. Even the "Tigre intellectuals who are working feverishly behind the scene to extend TPLF's life", would be better off in the long term if they embrace the wishes of the wider Ethipian people, and join the struggle. But, nobody would force them or beg them if they choose to be thrown in the dust bin of history as do the TPLF thugs.
Let me, bluntly, ask and challenge Dagmawi and Ethiopian Recycler, what their real objectives are when they are undermining opposition efforts and try to equate it to a tactic of power hungry individuals to come to the negotiating table?
I would also like to bluntly refute that their proposed solution to remove the TPLF dictators is not only workable, but rather would further extend their grip to power.
In an earlier article I have argued that, there is nothing wrong in working in partnership with Afeworki of Eritrea, if he has come of age and learned from his past mistakes of weakening Ethiopia. As I said earlier, leaders can make mistakes, learn from them and make a renewed commitment to rebuild a new partnership. There is no doubt that Eritrea will benefit from a friendly and strong Ethiopia in more ways than one. Or are they claiming that leaders do not learn, what so ever? As Afeworki himself said, TPLF and its sympathisers would never want any trust developing between Ethiopians and Eritreans and their leaders.
Ethiopian Recycler also argued that military solution would not work. As to me, no serious opposition would have contemplated, let alone, choose, a military solution had TPLF opened the slightest of real opportunity for opposition to function freely inside Ethiopia? The whole of the Ethiopian people and the world know what happened after the 2005 election. The space for opposition has increasingly been narrowing to a choking point, at this stage, where people are now denied to even read or listen to a different opinion. In fact, TPLF is just tabling a law in "parliament" to freely spy, torture and jail any potential real opposition to its power. So how is opposition going to "thrive" in Ethiopia, in such an environment, Sir?
Engaging dictators militarily is not a totally unacceptable option. Of recent, some liberal intellectulas have developed plausible arguments supporting the idea of entertaining the use of military power or coup de etat as a potential strategy to remove unelected dictators from power.
Ethiopian Recylcer has also proposed about putting pressure on donors not to support the TPLF thugs. We have seen how any such attempt by donors have been handled by TPLF in the past. TPLF thugs have looted plenty of wealth from the nation and any stick from donors is not going to affect them immediately. Even when suspending development assistance is used as a stick, it would be the population that would suffer, and TPLF does not worry about the suffering of people. In fact they would knowngly starve people, to force donors regreat their decision. Dictators do not easily submit to donor pressure. Also donors wouldn't go that further to force dictators out, if they have some immediate national and security interests. It should be by the people themselves that dictators have to be dealt with.
I don't think Ginbot 7 chose the startegy it chose, not by default but by design, using all strategies to get rid of TPLF from power. It is not a miscalculation at all, but rather a working strategy!! There was no need to give in to TPLF and, willingly be silenced, as the rest of the opposition at home are being treated. There is no opposition in Ethiopia today, except on the NEB("National Electoral Board)directory.
And why is calling a spade a spade seen as a hate rhetoric? Why are we trying to distance ourselves from the truth in the name of civility? Isn't it obvious that all the top brass in the military, civil and security institutions are from Tigre ethnic group? And is that just, or fair? Isn't it true that some TPLF loyalists of
Tigre ethnic groups are in control of business in Ethiopia today? Why is revealing
the truth called hate? Is it better to call a spade a spade and try to seek the medicine now, or keep silent, hide the truth underneath and let anger boil and destoy societal fabric later when it exploded. Is that the solution being proposed by Ethiopian Recycler?
Last, but not least, there have been repeated calls and there will be continued call for the general people of Tigre ethnic group and intellectuals of Tigre ethnic origin, as Ethiopians, to embrace the struggle of the Ethiopian people for freedom and democracy. Even the "Tigre intellectuals who are working feverishly behind the scene to extend TPLF's life", would be better off in the long term if they embrace the wishes of the wider Ethipian people, and join the struggle. But, nobody would force them or beg them if they choose to be thrown in the dust bin of history as do the TPLF thugs.
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