CALL ME BY MY ADDRESS: A commentary on Marathon and Sprint

30. August 2008 by Assimba.

By Obo Arada Shawl alias Wolde Tewolde - August 27, 2008

“In America, if you have a name, an address and a phone, they say you are in business; in Ethiopia, if you have a title, a family and a community, we say that you are an entity.”

Anonymous

In America, there are over 60, 000 baby names while in Ethiopia there are less than five thousand baby names averaging one name for 5,000 and 12,000 respectively. What about addresses and phones, I will leave these to my readers to figure it out. As for me, I have my name though I am still searching for my address. My address is where Debteraw and many others have disappeared.

Last two weeks, I have viewed two phenomenal events one in China and the other on Ethiopian websites. The Chinese, of course was about sports but the Ethiopian was about politics - of leadership.

The Beijing event was exceptionally phenomenal as it was watched by the sports fun and world leaders who were perhaps interested in the way China functions. The other phenomenal event was the proposal by a professor lawyer who went on rampage to nominating leaders for Ethiopia.

The Chinese have displayed their past and their future using the number 8 i.e. E-3

The name of Obang Metho is familiar not in real Ethiopia but in the Ethiopian websites. I appreciate him for using his native name unsparingly. He is one of the few individuals who are courageous enough to be addressed by given names. Call me by my name. What is in a name?

However, despite Ato/Mr Obang’s effort to blend the past and the future, he has failed to show how to blend them. It would have been much simpler had he resorted to the past history of Gambella, where the Ethiopian tourist organization promoted the number 13 i.e. B. I hope Mr. Obang admits that Ethiopia is a country of the 13^th months of sunshine. I believe that the number 13 is the solution for Ethiopia’s past and future, in spite of the incident that happened on December 13, 2003 – the cause for the Anuak massacre.

Although I do not know how Ato Obang thinks about the use or abuse of Gambella as a tourist center during the Monarchy time, or how he sees the Bridge of Gambella that was built foe no economic value. Menghistu Haile Mariam personally supervised to build a bridge – the longest bridge at that - with 210 m. in length. The Gambella bridge was not only the longest bridge in Ethiopia but it also the only bridge flooded by neon lights. I do not know much about Ato Obang except via the Internet but I know way too much about his birthplace. Does Mr. Obang know that his birthplace is the Center of Africa as studied by the Russians?

I am not writing to demean the lawyer professor but to remind him that he is unintentionally assisting to destroy the bridge that is intended to connect the Afar, to Gambella via the highlands of Ethiopia, i.e. the beginning to the future (A-G). This is the Marathon political struggle of Ethiopia. Mr. Obang seems to prefer a struggle of Sprint.

At the Olympics, the sprinters of America (both men and women) have failed but the Marathons of south of Ethiopia have prevailed. So the wind is not coming from the west as in Gambella, it is coming from Kenya, to the south of Ethiopia. A big O is coming from the south too. In the name of harmony, I advise Ato Obang to follow the spirit of Baro and Sobat rivers. They just flow smoothly. We have had enough resistance from the North. But the Northern have history, some positive others negative. I am not sure the use and abuse of Ethiopia’s name in Obang’s literature. Is Mr. Bang referring to the Biblical Ethiopia, Minilik’s Ethiopia, Haile Sellasie’s Ethiopia, Menghistu’s Ethiopia, Zenawi’s Ethiopia or the citizens of Ethiopia? Which address is he interested in? Ato Obang writes about Anjuak justice. What about others justice? If there is no moral or legal law in the entire country of Ethiopia, how is it possible to acquire justice for the Anjuaks? Mr. Obang by implication is accepting the dictatorship of the ethnic minority. What is normally or internationally norms of justice is through the recognition of the rule of the majority and the rights of the minority. If I am wrong, please, Mr. Obang I am ready to listen and learn.

The main reason I am attempting to remind Mr. Obang is to challenge his article on nominating or suggesting the would be Ethiopian leaders at the disposal of those who spent their lives to solve problems of Ethiopia be it oppression or exploitation. What kind of leaders is Ethiopia looking for, Mr. Obang? Moral leaders, business leaders, social leaders, religious leaders, military leaders and so on and so forth, who are you looking for? I think you were referring to political leaders or national leaders. I also think Mr. Obang wanted to build a bridge, a bridge of reconciliation and harmony. As Mr. Obang knows the physical bridge of Gambella did not bring harmony between Menghistu and citizens of Ethiopia. Was that why Mr. Obang was unable to nominate leaders from the Menghistu era, from the aristocracy, from the Fronts, from political parties and from the military veterans? Mr. Obang’s reasoning seems to me that he does not like those people who struggled to change the feudal, bureaucratic and the imperial (both socialist and capitalist) systems. Mr. Obang should focus on his pastor Christians not meddling in politics, economics, sociology, engineering etc. etc. Or is there something Mr. Obang is after. Let us hear from his side, particularly we want to know how Mr. Obang Metho understands the word Debtera least to know the whereabouts of DEBTERAW.

I hope the professor will read the following article, which might help him to connect the past to the future. The article is on the nature of Ethiopian marathon of political struggle in the hope that Mr. Obang might revise his nominations for political power or abstains from it.

 

 

 

 

NB:

This article was written on the eve of the London talk before the TPLF and the EPLF were handed or assumed political power. It was submitted to IMBLTA magazine but the editors never published it. Some revisions have been made to reflect to the current condition.

It is to be recalled that the Imblta groups were advocating that democracy was a fait accompli with the coming of EPLF and TPLF. Currently the then editors of Imblta have become president of Addis Ababa University and the ambassador of the Ethiopia to the United States of America. With their appointments, democracy is halted. Indeed a fait a accompli! This is a lesson for Mr. Obang and others. The Imblta group was minority in the community of Ethiopian intellectuals and they could not bring justice but injustice.

Demo a fait accompli too?

Points of Departure: Myth/Reality

• Zonal habitation – occupational territory

• Multinational – museum of people

• Oldest nation – first man’s settlement

• Christian Island – tolerance of religion

• Colonialism - Democratization

Societal Change: The means justifies the end

• Coup d’etat (classical style)

• Insurrection (Russian/French style)

• Protracted War (Chinese style)

• Rose/velvet/yellow/Ginbot 7 Revolutions (untested style)

• DEMOCRACIA (Ethiopian style)

The new World Order: The end justifies the means

• Truth

• Faith

• Peace

• Democracy

• Prosperity

Concluding Remarks

 

 

 

Demo a fait accompli too?

 

Without comparison to make, the mind does not know how to proceed

Alexis de Tocqueville

Introduction

Nothing is more common these days than the idea that the people living in Ethiopia are eminently sane given the fact that a great number of individuals in the midst suffered from severe form of hunger, revenge and desperation. Is this because of AEthiopian societies have become politically conscious as a result of their bitter struggle for revolutionary change or because of their human conscience deeply rooted in their long history and culture (²`)?

For whatever reason, the Ethiopian societies have proven themselves in a time-honored manner to be saner than was expected of them. Some displayed extreme discipline for not fighting over the distribution of food aid, a probable result of a philosophy deeply ingrained in ‘man does not live by bread alone’. Others showed mercy for not shooting their fellow men. Further, the soldiers turned their guns against their rulers who became unruly arrogant. In short, the AEthiopian^ populace showed restraint and magnanimity towards their fellow men. To the present day, all acts of provocation of ethnicity, regionalism or religiosity are being rejected.

In this article, an attempt will be made as to how AEthiopian intellectuals, particularly Revolutionaries, have theorized to seize political power. After all it is in the area of politics and economics that the AEthiopian people need clarification, as they are well aware of their cultural, historical, linguistic and religious differences.

Points of Departure: Myth/Reality

AEthiopians because of their heavy dependence on oral tradition have been subjected to oral myth/reality syndrome, particularly since the onset of the revolution. Many points of departure prominent among them are an issue of colonialism vis-à-vis democratization. As a result individuals and groups have varied facts and opinions on the following issues:

1. That AEthiopian society live in three distinct zones of climate, DEGA (2400 m above sea level), WEINA (1700-2400 a.s.l.) KOLA (below 1700 m a.s.l.)

2. That their country is inhabited by many nationalities making it a museum of people

3. That their society is as old as the Bible dating back to the creation of AE (Adam-Eve)

4. That their country is a Christian Island surrounded by Islam making it a nation of religious tolerance.

5. That an alien concept of colonialism and national self-determination has deeply wounded them.

For the common people of Ethiopia, the above points are simply a matter of observation and belief. However, on the part of the intellectuals, the above assertions require thorough research and study especially the fifth dimension of colonialism and self-determination.

What about the émigrés intellectuals at large? Why do we keep repeating social blunder? Is it because of a false step (faux pas) in the idea of progress that is implicit in the myth of the left – which feeds on the idea of a continuous movement or is it because the new world order including its philosophy is in catastrophe?

Was Ethiopia a nation of immigrants melted in a traditional way? Is it as old as Japan and Iran? If so could it have been as rich as Japan or as independent as Iran? Or is AEthiopia as old as any African country? Do AEthiopian people live along religious lines or climatic zones? Without fully answering these questions can we be so sure that by claiming part of these societies we are not deceiving ourselves? It is therefore unnecessary and unwarranted for the intellectuals to try to conclude about the myth/reality of AEthiopia before they can answer the previous questions satisfactorily.

Many a neurotic believes that his/her compulsive rituals, or his hysterical outbursts are normal reactions to somewhat abnormal circumstances that occurred in Ethiopia. How do we view ourselves? Have we shown any wisdom in keeping the equilibrium of Ethiopia? The balance between politics and religion; between names and address; between transport and communication and the marathon and sprint and of myth/reality is still hanging on a tight rope.

Broadly, the intellectuals are of two kinds: One group is that which follows the wish of the people and the other which became if not inconsiderate of its peoples’ misery and its country’s degradation, at least, inconsistent with its actions.

For fifty years now, our intellectuals have seem to be saying “give us problems, we can create enemies”. Without knowing what AEthiopians actually want, or what is essential to them; whether it is money-sex-pride; whether psychoanalysis or Marxism: whether to live individually or collectively, our intellectuals’ chose categorically either of Marxism or confusion.

Why? Daily humiliation of the colonized Eritrean, Oromian, Somalian or Tigrian, his/her objective subjugation is not merely economic. Even the poorest colonizer thought himself to be – and actually was superior to the colonized? That too is part of the colonial privilege. May be this is true, but isn’t the motivating force of the colonization economic? Deprivations of the colonized are the direct result of the advantages secured to the colonizer. The Eritrean, the Oromian, the Somalian and the Tigrian nationalist have all claims that colonial privilege is not solely economic. However, EPRP has taught tirelessly the difference between oppression and exploitation.

SOCIETAL CHANGE: The means justifies the end

At the onset of the Ethiopian Revolution of 1974, by and large, the majority of Ethiopians aspired for a societal change, perhaps for a revolutionary one. This can be testified by the fact that only few people stood by the side of the collapsing Imperial rule. It is safe to assume therefore, that the majority of AEthiopians had supported the revolutionary change. What fascinated me most was the line-up of the domestic forces, organizations in overt and covert forms to follow the direction and instructions of DEBTERAW’s DEMOCRACIA calling for a REVOLUTION and the present outcome of the effort for a second round of change.

What are revolutions and why do they occur? Why do some succeed and others fail? Are they necessarily violent upheavals, or can there be non-violent revolutions? Why do people rebel? What motivates them to risk their lives for such a cause? For centuries, the main question in revolution has perplexed social scientists, philosophers and even rulers. No one can answer these questions satisfactorily. A revolution may succeed or fail-the emphasis is on the effort – on the part of the revolutionaries and may choose as its object of a political/social transformation, or simply a change of rulers.

Perhaps the most useful definition of it is that which combines questions of success, violence and the object of revolutionary change.” A revolution is any attempt by subordinate groups through the use of violence to bring about (1) a change of government or its policy (2) a change of regime, or (3) a change of society, whether this attempt is justified by reference to past conditions or to an as yet unattained future ideal.”

What then, is a revolution in the AEthiopian context? The AEthiopian Revolution is a mixture of all three and it has both a success and a failure story. It was not only purposive but also developed ideological justifications and invariably entailed violence. Although the outcomes are not yet documented, the anti-feudalistic rule as reflected in the “land to the tiller” and the bureaucratic rule as portrayed in the “Amharanization” process seem to be over. The socio-economic inequality as proclaimed in the fight against “both imperialist” has yet to be redefined.

The national/nationalities question was ill conceived and poorly debated. Most of us were inclined towards optimism that once our people are enlightened (agitated), the natural order of things would assert itself. That is, the old tradition, prejudice and fanaticism that were prevalent in Ethiopia would be put aside. The problem was how to enlighten (inform), organize and arm the Ethiopian nationals/nationalities.

It is in this process of politics/economics (T”nƒ& TÅ^˃ ﾝ“ TcﾁÖp mankat, mastatek ena mastatek) that AEthiopian intellectuals have failed to spell out to the Ethiopian people. Political/social transformation or a simple change of ruler was at the cornerstone of each struggle. Undeniably though, all agents of change have adopted the three classical (historical) method of taking power by means of: -

1. Coup d’etat

2. Insurrection and

3. Protracted war

4. Ginbot 7

I will deal with each of them in the manner of my observation, experience and judgment.

Coup d’etat (Sð”pK S”Ócƒ mefenkle mengst)

A coup d’etat is an attempt to change a government by a sudden attack against the actual machinery of administration. Under proper condition, a comparatively small number of determined men can capture the state. It is for men who could never hope to raise or equip armies for a civil war, or with no chance of calling forth or controlling the wave of a revolution. Normally, a coup d’etat is considered in three stages; the preparatory stage; the attack phase and the consolidation phase. The preparatory phase begins with the first tentative plotting against the existing regime and continues until the first shot is fired on the day of the coup. The attack phase, beginning with that of the first shot, lasts until the old government has been overthrown and the new one installed. After the violence of the coup is over, the consolidation phase continues until the rebel regime is firmly established in power, with its opponents neutralized and the country pacified. A classical example of a coup in Ethiopia was the attempt to topple the imperial rule by the Neway brothers during December 1960.

We have witnessed many coup d’etat plots initiated from within and outside of Ethiopia. Ethiopian repressive circumstance forced the leading conspirators to plan and exile, but there were also many disadvantages to this. The coup d’etat émigré leaders of Ethiopia have drifted out of touch with political realities in Ethiopia and so miss the moment of opportunity. It is also true that when leaders are separated from their followers by national and international boundaries, problem of liaison and communication often became acute, effective control is hared to maintain, and the intelligence available to them is usually out-of-touch. Another failure of our émigré leadership is that friction and jealousies have developed between those who break the dangers of underground work at home and those who live in the comparative comfort and safety of exile. Even though, a coup possesses decisive advantage over the civil war and revolution, in the Ethiopian case it did not succeed (though some sources have registered three successful coups in Ethiopia. Could the source of failure emanated from the Ethiopian proverb Ñ<M‰ u=kÁ¾` ¨Ø ›Á×õØU (gultcha bikeyaer wet ayataftim). I.e. the use of different ovens will not change the taste of food.

As the peak of the Revolution, there was a story of the DERG’s dream that it wished that all Ethiopians functioned via a unitary throat so as to chop easily with its “Revolutionary Sword” when the need arises. All those who hope to overthrow a government by a sudden violence of coup d’etat may take this dream for a motto. The techniques of a coup d’etat is not new, it is as old as government itself. It seemed not to work in the Ethiopian societies though despite its unpopularity there are some people residing abroad willing to initiate and perpetuate it.

Insurrection (u¯Sî am’ez)

The second type of taking power is through insurrection. It is a rapid mobilization of military force, accompanied by mass action. The Paris Commune and the Russian Revolution of 1917 usually epitomize it. This is different from a coup d’etat in which a select and restricted band of conspirators seize power without mass participation. In the Ethiopian case, insurrection has never taken place despite some people’s claim of EPRP’s brief attempt of it so as to supplement to its guerrilla rural warfare. What about TPLF’s power taking in Addis Ababa? Could it be classified as insurrection or a coup d’etat or what?

Urban guerrilla war is possible only if the strength of the establishment has deteriorated to the point where armed bands can move about in the city. Such a state of affairs has occurred only on very rare occasions and it has never lasted for any length of time, leading within a few days either to the victory of insurgents or the incumbents. A normal use of “urban guerrilla” is a euphemism for urban terrorism, which has a negative public relations image. Because of this, EPRP always advised its members to dissociate themselves from “traditional terrorism” although a few fringe groups openly advocated terrorism solely against their true enemies. True urban terrorism can undermine a weak government, or even act as a catalyst of a general insurgency but it is not an instrument for the seizure of power. Urban terrorists cannot normally establish “ liberated zones”, their operations may catch headlines but they cannot conduct mass propaganda nor build up a political organization. Despite the fact that modern society has become more vulnerable than in the past to attacks and disruptions of this kind, urban terrorism is politically ineffective except when carried out in the framework of the overall strategy of a political movement, usually sectarian or separatist in character, within an already existing mass basis.

It is believed that EPRP unlike many other guerrilla movements did not regard itself as urban guerrillas; its assassinations were largely symbolic acts of “punishment” meted out to individual members of the forces of oppression – they were not usually part of an overall strategy.

Initially EPLF and TPLF guerrilla operations were mainly directed against the armed forces of the enemy and the security services, as well as installations of strategic importance. At a later stage, however, modern urban terror became less discriminate in the choice of its targets. Operations such as bank robberies, hijacking, kidnapping, and of course, assassinations were expected to create a general climate of insecurity. Such actions were always carried out by small groups of EPLF/EPRDF people; EPLF and EPRDF units of an urban guerrilla groups could not grow beyond a certain limit as the risk of detection increased with the growth in numbers.

Protracted Armed Struggle (¾}^²S ¾ƒØp ƒÓM yeterazeme ye’ttk tigl)

The methodology applied to usurp political power in almost all Ethiopian cases was through a protracted armed struggle. Their basis of claim, however, was radically different from each other.

EPLF has waged protracted war on the basis of a ‘colonial theory’.

TPLF is waging wars for power on the theory of ‘ethno-nationalism’

EPRP is struggling for politics on the theory of ‘multinationalism’

OLF is waging war for democracy on the theory of ‘ethno-colonialism’

Guerrilla warfare has consistently been the choice of the weak that oppose the strong, for it enables them to avoid direct decisive confrontations and rely on harassment and surprise. It is different though in that it is a military tactic aimed at harassing an adversary, whereas revolutionary war is a military means whereby to overthrow a political regime.

In revolutionary war any guerrilla action that needs explaining to the people is politically useless; it should be meaningful and convincing by itself. To kill an ordinary soldier in reprisal for the assassination of guerrilla is to descend to the same political level as a reactionary army. Far better is to create a martyr and thereby attract mass sympathy than to lose or neutralize popular support by senseless killings without an evident political goal. To be victorious in a peoples’ war one has to act in conformity with the interests, sentiments and will of the people. A military victory is worthless if it fails to be politically convincing. Only time will tell whether the Ethipian Fronts have played their cards well.

Following are some of the tenets that I believe were used in their guidelines, which perhaps have heavily influenced them in their struggle to bring a societal change in Ethiopia.

• “The object of war is to preserve oneself and annihilate the enemy” as preached by Mao Zedong and practiced by EPLF

• “The Chinese communist party claimed to power through its military arm, political power grows out of the barrel of the gun” as practiced by TPLF

• “ We must emphasize politics. Our army is an army in the service of politics and politics must guide the military in its day to day work” as preached by Lin Piao and practiced by EPRP

• “ A hundred victories in a hundred battles is not the best of the best; the best of the best is to subdue the enemy without having to fight” Chinese proverb as practiced by OLF.

• Let us demonstrate to the world and seize political power as has happened during the Soviet collapse (Kinjit style)

On the basis of these strategies of struggle for liberation and the means to achieve their objectives, which one is the right choice for AEthiopia and AEthiopians? The reader should take a pick and discuss its merits and demerits as for me; DEBTERAW’s EPRP was the right path.

Many readers will raise their eyebrow because so far EPRP has failed to seize political power. But the fact of the matter is that tactical victory is not equal to strategic defeat. The tactical victory in AEthiopia is kept by the use of combatants instead of peacekeepers.

The new world order: The end justifies the means

The majority of Ethiopian revolutionaries had emphasized on the means of a struggle rather than on the end. Even the DERG initially had accepted the motto (ÁKU”U ÅU ßq“ è<ÅU yale m’n’m dem chikona ywdem). But it proved futile that it resorted to the end product rather than the means. Is it not true that we greet one another by saying( cLU peace)? It may show that we love peace. Somebody has to come up with an insight why we love peace in words but not in deeds. The catchword these days is peace. The choice between the gun and the platform must be spelled out. War does not end unless it immediately follows by communication and dialogue. May be the bridge of Gambella will help provided that Ato Obang is wise to incorporate the number 13 in his quest for political power.

Unlike many AEthiopian understandings, politics at its best is a civilized activity. Politics can preserve the peace, protect human rights, advance economic well being and encourage excellence in the arts and science. Politics at its worst though, leads to war, tyranny, economic ruin and barbarism particularly for those on the losing side of the struggle for power. No one should assume that EPRP is a loser. EPRP was and is on the side of justice be it for Anuak, Darfur or Agame.

Politics according to EPRP is a process, within or among political communities whereby Ethiopian

• Values are articulated, debated, and prescribed.

• Diverse political actors as individuals, interest groups, regional or local governments cooperate and struggle for power in order to protect their fundamental interest and advance their personal desires and

• To advance public policy for the entire national interest of a nation called AEthiopia.

The history of EPRP according to DEBTERAW, as written in DEMOCRACIA is as follows: -

• To identify the problem and pick the question to be solved

• EPRP’s main questions were political injustice and poverty

• Identify the necessary conditions of justice and prosperity

• EPRP had/has a target to shoot and a goal to achieve

• EPRP made a conscious choice to adopt DEMOCRACIA

DEMOCRACIA, according to DEBTERAW, is the government of the poor and the free. The choice of EPRP was a polity of democracy from the beginning while others had/have a choice to by lead by one Monarchy or a Tyranny, by a few Aristocracy or Oligarchy. Everyone and everybody should have a choice in promoting his ideas but to have ideas one has to be free to be creative. In Ethiopia, there were and are still killers of ideas. The new world order cannot be new to EPRP. Checking in hindsight and foresight, it is of paramount importance to consolidate the search for DEBTERAW’s whereabouts because with him lies justice for all including for the Anuaks.

Concluding Remarks

In the past, nationalism, ideology, ethnic had dominated the life history of AEthiopians. Today in the global strife, we seem to be lost in the rank of prioritizing to listen to or to follow the Priest-Evangelist-Imam-Rabbi (PIER) teachings. What an aberration? What has happened to the leaders and managers of the Eway Revolution?

 

For comments and critics

Woldetewolde@yahoo.com

 A+E = Ethiopia plus Eritrea (›?)

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What is Enemy for Ethiopians and Patriots is not Necessarily Enemy for Minors.

20. August 2008 by Assimba.

 By Yelfiwos Wondaya

    The TPLF/EPRDF is an enemy of Ethiopia as ever, EPRDF is a coalition in disguise and TPLF is the power at the center binding the sworn enemies of Ethiopian nation-state under the umbrella of so-called EPRDF.   The purpose of bringing them under EPRDF is nothing but to dismantle the nation-state of Ethiopia into teeny, tiny regions in which narrow-nationalists and regionalists speak, act, and vote on behalf of their own respective regions.  All of them are agents for TPLF serving the interest of TPLF at the expense of the people they claim to be representing.  In such a way, EPRDF is making sure that the union is weakening and no longer be viable in proportion to their ethnic based federation.  That is the fact on the ground!  The TPLF/EPRDF hates and harms individuals and groups whose national agenda is unity, democracy and justice for all Ethiopians and discriminates them based on their political believes, ethnic origins and languages and imprisons, prosecutes and kills them just because they opposed to its political ideology.  So in a case like this, why on earth the TPLF/EPRDF is not considered to be the enemy of our nation and people?  TPLF/EPRDF is an enemy for the fact that its values and behaviors are also in conflict with the very values and behaviors of Ethiopiawinet itself.  In reality, in the eyes of Ethiopians and patriots, EPRDF is seen in two ways as the long hand of foreign powers and the arch enemy of Ethiopia and Ethiopiawinet.  Knowing that TPLF and associates are that enemy and rival of Ethiopian national interests at the core, one wonders why the word enemy becomes an offensive term for minors when used against the very enemy of our nation’s fate and all of a sudden come out to be an ardent defender of TPLF/Woyane itself. 

    However, some already have done that distinction from the outset while the others are still dunking themselves into a quagmire of confusion.  Confused or not, what is good about this trend is that it is no longer threatening for the unity forces.  Because, Ethiopians are no longer interested in playing with words against their own rather they need to buckle up in short and fight injustice wherever it strikes.  In other words, Ethiopians do not need to have no spaces for those who are preaching hope against hope anymore.  After all, those who are preaching peace where there is no peace to fit in to begin with are well exposed to the point where their track record is quiet clearly controversial and divisive all along.  As a result, one has to urge unionists to end an association with them for good.  Minors as ever, also they are no longer important in Ethiopian national struggle in comparison to those organizations whose sense of balance in Ethiopian political landscape is momentous and influential.   Insignificant as ever also, professor Mesfine is venturing to succeed in persuading Ethiopians in the Diaspora but in vain.  Isn’t that a dangerous trend for him in particular and for some wana be oppositions in general to carry out such mission abroad on behalf of TPLF/EPRDF and appearing to be monk devoting himself to prayer, solicitude, and contemplation and yet the purpose of all this is nothing but to appease Ethiopians not to rise up against woyene?  Whether or not they will survive the popular rejection of the public is yet to be seen.  However, just because Ethiopians are exposed to hundreds of political messages from dozens of political groupings does not mean that Ethiopians are as confused as the massagers are.   Not quite yet the public is at a complete loss as those who are acting as a diplomat on behalf of TPLF/EPRDF think so and wish for.  Ethiopians are not interested in a party of two or more private clubs formed for the purpose of fame and prominence either.  A party of two or more elites that adopts a wait-and-see policy toward the arch enemy of our nation cannot be a political party by any measure. 

    Besides, Ethiopians are well-informed on issues relating to a particular topic of who the enemy is and is not and could not be that difficult for them to tell the bad from the ugly either.  Ethiopians know full well what TPLF stands for and what party objects to TPLF’S rule and adopts objective measures against notorious TPLF.  So it is better for those who are preaching peaceful means of struggle in disguise to get rid of their concealing outfit and face the world or else one cannot foresee any future for them to make it in Ethiopia.  

    The fact remains solid, that on top of Ethiopian’s rejection to the dictatorial rule of DERG, the downfall of the then military junta in late may 1991 was an outcome of the then REBLES’ political commitment and military might.  Both EPLF and TPLF emerged as point of contention and maintained their military power against DERG and moreover identified the unionists as enemy by calling them NEFITEGNA.  Isn’t that one of the main reasons why they been successful in their fight against their enemy and seen as a contending force which in turn attracted foreign powers as opposed to those on the union side?  At the end, they established their own governments.  They managed to identify those political groupings whose political agenda was Ethiopian unity and fraternity at that time and dislodged them effectively not to be part of EPRDF no more.   

    Afterward, an all out popular support is crucial but distinguishing our enemy from our friend is more crucial in order to win the war against enemy.   Therefore, our leaders have to take this momentum into consideration and make use of the prevalence of our unity and multiethnic sentiments as opposed to the 1990s.  And anyone out there collectively or individually has to join our existing partnership and taking sides with the unity forces.   Then we will see who is becoming fainter by the day and vanished at the end. 

    In conclusion, the efforts and visions of our genuine political parties must be appreciated as opposed to minors’ that create confusion and havocs in Ethiopia today.  The political parties and the public at large that are making a collective effort to achieve a radical change against the fate of TPLF/EPRDF and the wish of minors shall prevail over our enemies.  To that end, we must continue to challenge the vague approach of minors, a phenomenon that creates apathetic political approach both in Ethiopia and abroad.  It is time for genuine Ethiopians and patriots to stand up against such approach and continue to operate on their own and advance the struggle against TPLF.  After all, we are lucky to have such visionary political organizations as EPRP and others.  Visionaries as ever, they are indeed the making of those action-oriented men and women embracing the ideals and principles of our nation, as a result, they deserve to have our trust and to be the leading parties of our national struggle.  Last but not least, we need to know who is failing to understand the difference between our principal enemies and Friends alike and move on. 

Yelfiwos Wondaya

 

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That is why Words are there for

2. August 2008 by Assimba.

By Getachew Reda

Lately, there are elements from the opposition group popping- up with a new idea of advice telling people to <<stop humiliating Weyane/TPLF>>. Kidding you not!

In the city where I live, near the corner of the huge city building, there is a poster from the anti virus soft ware maker “MacAfee” reading << none stop humiliation for hackers! MacAfee>>

TPLF as an organized and armed “Tigrayan- Mafia” an enemy of Ethiopia; intentionally caused a great deal of harm to the Ethiopian future survival by land locking the country unfairly and illegally (not to mention its crime against humanity). As we all witnessed the painful and devastating 17 years of TPLF rule in Ethiopia with the continuation of war, hunger, conflict, immigration, discrimination, and one should conclude that TPLF is an enemy of the nation. Not only an enemy, but a “principal enemy” of the nation!

Therefore, the principal enemy of the nation, especially if the enemy is with in, then, the enemy needs to be humiliated none stop, till it stops its agenda of destroying of the interest of the future generation of the country.

One, no need to be puzzled why we have to label the Tigrayan organized armed Mafia as principal enemy of Ethiopia. All, you need to do is look the landlocking of the nation, the million Dollars it is spending to rent ports after it gave away its ports which it could have been using it for free and rent it to others in billions who need it. Mind you, the unbelievable huge thousands and thousands of Ethiopians perished in Badime, Tsorona and other battle zones for “nothing!” after both EPLFand TPLF clowns bragged openly that “there will be no more war after both seized power”. All this happened after accusing (Seyuom Mesfines and the OLF’s favorite word NefTENga) the “Neftenga” for the previous wars as if created by the “Amhara” and accusing the “Neftenga” to subjugate Tigringa speaking population intentionally and sent to Eritrea an Amhara ethnic a fellow member of TPLF/EPRDF (Tamrat Laynie or Endrias Eshete- one of them I do not recall exactly who- probably Tamrat) to apologize the Eritreans on behalf of the Amhara ethnic population!

This was intentionally made to look as if Amharans are responsible for all wars and misery in the north (though, now the world witnessed both caused worst war ever in the history of that area that the “Neftenga” they were accusing.

What other enemy can you find me worst than this kind of treasonous, rude, and idiotic & connive mind than this shameful act? Doesn’t that make you cry, upset, and anger with such irresponsible act made intentionally to create animosity among innocent people?

Didn’t such conspiracy made your mind restless and see how Ethiopia is turned into the hand of these little men of jungle?

Look the policy, and its programs and the onslaught and ethnic conflict on record (continues report of ethnic clash for the last 17 years none stop, which some of them are so bloody and genocidal conflict).

Look how much ethno-centered clannish type community each hugging their fabricated flags breeding under its policy and program detached completely from the heart and love of the center population and humanity and Ethiopianity.

We are not talking about ordinary tyrant here. We are talking about TPLF who is accused of genocide in Ethiopia. It is that serious. Therefore, one shouldn’t be puzzled why we labeled TPLF as principal enemy of the nation. It is the” national virus”, as some putted it “carcinoma/ cancer. Therefore, is harmful to the survival of the country when one weighs the number of national crimes and its ethnic policy the source for conflict.

so, we have to agree to the term as MacAfee’s slogan, that goes against the internet hackers, which similarly we too need to continue gearing our effort to see the none stop humiliation of the gangsters of Weyane Tigray /”hackers” whose slogan still chants the “Liberation of Tigray!” creating a disruptive atmosphere in the life of the Ethiopian nation similar to the Deg era.

Once again, we are dismayed by our friends in the opposition who are intentionally, teaching the population “to stop humiliating the principal enemy /that is” TPLF”. Personally, I will continue tearing down and humiliate the enemy, as much as I can , and as long as I am alive on this earth, in order to be able to kiss the ground and the soil of my beloved Ethiopia, “my country!!!!!!!!!!, my town!”, where my umbilical cord is buried and able to breath the air and watch the moon and the stars and in their brightest cloud at night where my parents great, great , great grandparents soul is floating on deep inside the Ethiopian sky without being followed by the TPLF spy, before I leave this planet of theirs.

Bear with me, for a moment. There are others also who are coming out with an advice to not insult opposition or the enemy TPLF. Let me deal here why insult should be used against group or an opposition leader/leaders who is or are fools, connive, idiotic, mercenaries, infiltrators, detractors and power hunger individuals and you name it so many, and so many characters with in the opposition.

In a society where a huge number if not majority number of the population act as if it is a “sheep society” like that of ours where it allowed itself to be lead and controlled by gangs and tyrants and fanatics: obviously, no question, it need to be told with a descriptive word in order to alert how low the society is dragging its pride by power hunger and political elites who are worthless to follow.

Here, some may not like to hear society to be called “sheep”. They hard fact is society is made out of individuals and it is not miraculous type of soul. Inside it, you will se so many thieves, murderers, connives, rude, power hunger and so on and so on. Description of society is necessary here. That is why General Mengistu Neway clearly out his frustration by using the exact description /word as <Ye Ahiyoch yemolubat Ketema!> “a city full of donkey (he was referring to the city population (?)) to explain the character of the city duelers of his time. He was right. Nothing seems changed. Still the same “sheep!!!!” (Though we want to fool ourselves that our society is alert, knows who his enemy is or who his friend……is.)

In a society of a “sheep culture” like that of ours, who is likely to be dragged with a rope to its death by mercenaries and infiltrators one should not be shy to call it “a sheep”. At the same time, those of some opposition groups/ leaders/elements that caused the hottest movement of the people to be dragged down to its worst stage to cause a freeze, intentionally seeking for personal power: no doubt, they ought to be finger pointed and casted out and isolated.

When you see the effort and determination and dedication of few individual leaders/ groups and nationalists, as a result of it, a nation coming together with a united coalition to remove the enemy of the nation, indeed! That makes you feel to belt yourself with a belt of hope. And they need be called “HEROES”.

Unfortunately as I said it above, individuals /groups of elements on the other side of the aisle associated themselves as opposition with the movement, working for their personal agendas; and as a result of it, if the movement freezes and reversed the resistive society to go back to its “sheep and deaf-culture” (to where it was before): then, no question, they contributed a great deal of harm to the movement and they need to be called what ever word /words feet them to describe.

Educated Leaders/groups are just ordinary human beings like you and I. And they do what we all do. They do mistakes or do harms. Or they act stupid and do idiotic things. When someone says there are many deaf out there, you have to ask him for explanation, because there are many deaf and dumb out there indeed. Who is appropriate definer is an excellent question.

All you need to see is the bragging and the empty bluffing that the air being saturated without out any thing seen of their bragging in practice. If one group or leaders says “no more peaceful movement and preaches time for arm movement” then he/she ought to show it in deeds not by bragging to the air. That definer device will be there for you to see it if such opposition leader/leaders/elements/group is/are in the right track.

If the group failed from doing what it bragged to “do” (after, destroying the hottest movement of others lying, it will fight the enemy better with an arm in order to disrupt the movement) then, you have all rights to insult and devalues its disinformation in any descriptive words/insults you wish to describe such element/elements.

To come to my conclusion- a liar is called a liar. There is beauty, and there is ugly. There is honesty and there is cheating. You call them all by their character. If one thinks the opposition is clean of liars and power hungers and cheaters, emotionalists: then he/she must be stupid, because he/she is stupid for not acknowledging the obvious. Do not call me uncivilized because I insulted them. Insult is seen or taken as uncivilized by some sectors. No, there is no such civilized politics in politics. If politics doesn’t and can’t involve in exposing liars and cheaters, and connives and infiltrators and mercenaries and power hungers who cause harm to the nation. Then, I do not know what politic is meant?

But, if you know, that such characters surely exist with in the opposition, you have no other choice of words to describe them except to apply the words/insults created by linguistics to describe characters and behaviors of people.

Pardon me; do not trust those professors who simply burned their time reading without living/working their life with the mass population of the villagers back home where there is no light at dinner time. You will see so many liars inside the villagers and so many good decent villagers inside them also. You will hear them insulting each other in a community gathering in the village when during matters that concern the community.

Among them, there are some who are power hunger villagers. Think of “Bilata Hailemariam” of the first Woyane (1935-36 Ethio-cal) in Tigray. He was refused the order of his higher authorities to pass the authority he had to the next man chosen and went to appeal as far as Addis Ababa & didn’t succeed finally went to forest as “Shifta rebel”. After staying a while out in the jungle; coincidently, the Woyane/rebellion started and right away jumped to use that opportunity to fulfill his power hunger agenda/mission. And from there, you know the rest of the story!!

Similarly, in the so called civilized America’s Congress chambers, you see also angers, insults and accusations, satires. You check out in each of their campaign, you will see bartering each other with notorious insults including exposing their private secret lives true or untrue. Go to Asia: - you will see them in the parliament beating each other with fists and tables as the Somalia’s did it in Kenya. Americans, Europeans, the Indian and the Asians are all consider civilized countries with civilized politicians governed by civilized democracy. But, the reality is far from it.

Here our educated elements are dreaming of “civilized politics” (what ever that means) when talking. There is no such civilized politics or will never be in the future. Insult will be there and descriptive words to those who deserve them will be alive and continue to be used where ever country you think of. It is foolish or a myth to think or preach insult in politics will be disappearing because of “civilized-politics”.

These elements are thinking like those scientists who are working to stop death or recreate the dead body already expired 100 years ago preserved on a special built freezer. Myth? You civilized politicians tell me if possible.

As long as thieves, liars, infiltrators, murderers, power hungers, idiotic and stupid politicians are there inside the opposition mixed together, the descriptive word/words will continue carried on to describe characters. Words didn’t created by miracle for any reason. The linguistics created them, because the different character of people allowed them to create those words that fit the people’s character or behavior. Even the `Koran or the wholly Bible has words and cursing words for us to describe each of our character and behavior. Many of the cursing words came from god’s mouth. Because, we deserve to be cursed for not hearing when we have ears and failed to see when we have eyes.

When people started to tolerate power greed and at times racist elements for the sake of the growth of the people’s movement to achieve the people’s last goal: but, unfortuanly, if the cheaters and power hunger racists and the likes started to dehumanize those who were struggling for so long with the enemy and act up on them as a wholly father of the heaven; then one have no choice, but to tell it, as it is. That is why words are there for!

To advice and come out with negotiating ideas telling all opposition sides to “cool off” and start unite in order to “focus” at the “principal enemy” of the nation: I can understand that, and I fully support it. But, talking about civilized politics and the whole crap of political jargon that flow with it can’t cure the illness (what ever the illness we are experiencing). It is not the “insult” that created the havoc. It is the behavior of few elements that caused it when they get into the political play ground. So, let us get out of such illusion! Ethiopia will prevail!

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