17. August 2010 by Assimba.

Call me by my role: AADWA III  - By Obo Arada Shawl

August 13, 2010

• Emperor Haile Sellasie was dethroned for his inability to separate the state and religion

• Menghistu was forced to run away due to his inability to separate military from civilian rule

• Issais is losing popularity due to his inability to distinguish concepts of Harnet from Naznet

• Meles is hated for knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing (cynicism)

• EPRP is known for its inability to separate Business from Personal matters

Introduction

A model, according to dictionaries, is a pattern, a plan, a representation or description designed to show the main object or working of an object, system, or concept.

A model in this and subsequent articles is about representation of a concept, a place and a process. The concept is liberation for self-determination, the place is a village/mountain and the process is about democratization to be known as AADWA III.

First of all, what makes an Ethiopian identity? An Eritrean identity? Does Eathiopianism evolve? Yes, it does; otherwise, we have solutions without a problem.

I have been attempting to write about the fate of DEBTERAW in the hope that we all benefit in telling the TRUTH. So far, I don’t believe that I have succeeded.

If I have, the criteria for measuring success or failure should be based against the stated objectives and goals of the following four organizations. Or alternatively measuring the opinions of the “E or Fifth” category of “unarmed/unorganized” individuals and groups should be re-examined.

Where are we now? Have we reached where we should reach? That is, do we have an Eathiopian Republic, thirteen or fourteen states of Ethiopia or disintegrating societies? Which of the four organizations or CC members has caused so much trouble that should be held accountable? Let us examine albeit briefly of each organization’s positive contributions.

Name Leader Objective Mission Goal

1. ESAPA Menghistu H.M Socialism Class struggle Classless Society

2. TPLF Melse Zenawi State Ethnic Struggle Ethnic State

3. EPLF Issais Afeworki Independence Race Struggle Nationalist State

4. EPRP Collective Leaders Republic Democratic struggle Eathiopian Republic

The blame or credit should have been rested solely on the merits and demerits of economic progress by ESAPA, ethnic equality by TPLF, social egalitarian by EPLF or democratization of EPRP. It is with these backgrounds that we should define our costs and benefits. Otherwise, incriminating and blame games will not work.

ESAPA

Class by definition is division. The Menghistu regime popularly known as the DERG had proclaimed socialism based on class struggle for seventeen years (1974-1991). Because the ESAPA top leader has run away, the party had to disintegrate into thin air. Its members and supporters might have believed that they were doing the right thing for the country as a whole. Now they have come to believe that they were dead wrong but could not admit for the simple reason that its top leaders were not prosecuted. For this reason and for other reasons of their own, many of them have become either spoilers of the DIASPORA politics or have become paid agents for the regime of TPLF.

As at now, the most hated word is politics. Sometimes, I wonder why the most valuable word is berated to a low level of crime and criminals. In the West World, the message and the messenger are separated and as such, politics and politicians are differentiated. In today’s world, some politicians have become literally bandits and vulgar. I believe because there are too many loopholes in the rules and regulations by which they have to follow. Nevertheless, the voters have the power to change the rules and regulations of their constituents. In other words, the corruption is reversible and for this reason, voters love politics but not politicians.

The current leaders of Ethiopia including the so-called legislators have no clue of what politics is about let alone to know the importance of justice and policy matters.

Take for example, the case of politics in action that was held in Washington DC on August 5, 2010 by a group of supporters of the Ethiopian regime. The regime have initiated a call for a demonstration for the support of America on the use of the Blue, Black or White Nile. I know that both the regime and its proxy demonstrators do not know or did not care to know what the American government possesses in its data base of water resources.

Groups of people were involved in demonstration (of course peaceful one as is in America). A group of Ethiopians in support of the government of Ethiopia has come to plead with the American government and the government of Egypt to keep off their hands from interfering in the handling of the Nile. In my opinion, this group either doesn’t know the color of the Nile water or they are camouflaged in the name of Eathiopia’s interest wrapped up in fear of the unknown.

Everything with the Nile Basin (Black or Abbay) concern or development has to do with the peoples of Illubabor, Keffa, Shewa, Wellega, Wollo, Gondar, Tigrai and Eritrea and of course with the peoples of Godjam. The solution or the dispute of the Black Nile solely rests with the above named people. They need the support of a sober and a stable government in Eathiopia.

Whatever, the case is, the ABAY (Black) Basin comprises app. 318,000 sq. miles or roughly one third of Eathiopia. The plan, according to a comprehensive water resources development study that was carried out by the Americans was meant a panacea for Eathiopia to be a prosperous nation and a self-sustained economic development.

Another group of people who opposes the current Ethiopian regime have gone to demonstrate to the Chinese Embassy to protest against the Chinese government support in technology equipment that can block broadcasting and Internet to Ethiopia. This group has at least a demand for freedom but nevertheless, it is a futile attempt to depend on others instead on oneself.

Both demonstrations have taken place on August 5, 2010. Different groups with different claims for the purpose of demonstrating to a foreign country. Why? Maybe, they were copying the model of the EPLF and TPLF proxy war in Somalia. Let us believe in ourselves. The solutions lie within us.

TPLF’s model

First it was nationalism based on Woyane-ism, then it was communism based on Enver Hoja (Albania), then it was “Market” modeled on American Capitalism. Curently, it is “capitalism” based on Chinese model.

What is wrong with the TPLF leadership model? Within 50 years, they have managed to switch ideologies five times, an average of 10 years for a model to emulate.

Is this because of lack of education or luck of confidence or trust? I cannot say it is because of lack of education as there are thousands of educated individuals from that region.

I believe it is because of the rejection of their own strength namely their church education and Christian heritage. The TPLF leadership has been in a state of search as they say “a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat which is not there”. The last attempt the TPLF leaders are seem to doing now is the Mao Tse Tung (Zedong) style which was to close their society from the outside world. The province of Tigrai is currently has been closed to the outside world including to other Eathiopians. The leaders are operating from Addis Ababa.

What an ideology and what a leadership style? This blend of the Middle Age and 21^st Century should change or would have to collapse like its predecessor. This is untenable to say the least. By the year 2013, the leadership of TPLF will step down according to my predictions. The pretension of having Constitution and Congress (CC) in the name of Eathiopia seem to be a naked lie and a down right harmful to all Eathiopians including to Tigrian origin.

It is time to alienate the so-called CC leadership of TPLF from its ranks and files. And it is time for all involved in some form of leadership within the TPLF to regret and correct their honest mistakes and stop to pay lip service but to be involved in action - the action of the Eway Ethiopian Revolution.

EPLF

For 114 years (1896-2010), the Eritreans have struggled and are (still struggling) for Independence, Harnet and Nazanet wrapped up together. For this reason, there is bound to be confusion in distinguishing choices among liberty, independence and freedom.

Added to that, the EPLF’ secret organization within itself has created more problems than it can handle.

For too long discussion issues of religion, race, ethnic and politics were suppressed at the expense of Colonialism – that was based on race.

Nonetheless, the Eritreans for the first time are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Surprising, this light is coming neither from the government of Issais nor from the opposition groups who have just completed conference on unity of oppositions in Ethiopia.

The light is coming from two individuals who wrote books, one in Tigrigna and the other in English. The English version is entitled “of Kings and Bandits” written by Saleh “Gadi”, Johar founder and publisher of Awate.com website and the Tigrigna version is titled “Kab RiQ- Hifnti). Roughly translated “a drop in the ocean – or piece of the action as narrated by the author himself to himself.” It is written by Tekie Beyene, one time national bank governor of Eritrea…

What is amazing of these two books is the fact that both books fit the maxim “a picture is worth thousand words”. Saleh, depicts a king and a bandit facing each other as if making deals. It does not explain much of the current reality though. He is depicting the past. If Saleh “Gadi” Johar is depicting the struggle of the Eritrean common folk’s alias known as Hafash, he has wasted his time and energy to convince those of us who did not participate directly in the Eritrean struggle. I believe that Awate’s single bullet had heralded the good news of Harnet and Nazanet. I hope Awate was not a bandit as some quarters attempt to portray him. For me, the book of Saleh is as good as the book of ELI. All over again! I don’t believe 5 decades of struggle has been wasted. We have evolved.

The book of Tekie is commendable for the simple reason that he wrote in the First Person Singular (I). It is indeed a huge step in the right direction. It is the beginning for individualism to be restored in the Eritrean society. I hope Tekie’s intention is not to salvage the power holders but to salvage the civil society. We have to wait and see.

EPRP’s model

EPRP had ideas about the role of any government even when it is outside of the mainstream. EPRP does not also rebel without a pause. It gave a chance to the DERG’s government to focus on what it knows best i.e. the military and to return to its barracks leaving the country for civilians to fight among themselves, be it for Socialism or Capitalism. Instead of abiding to the demands of workers, peasants, students and intellectuals, the military had taken the reign of the government. In fact, without understanding the model of control and command (CC), the DERG had formed a group of (CC) comprising eleven members of which seven were picked from the military and five of them were engineers. Such was the power base and a structure of ESAPA.

These Eleven people should be held responsible for all the atrocities that their followers had committed as well as for the failures of an envisaged ideology of progress. I don’t think that all ESAPA members and followers are to be blamed or incriminated. Rather, they should take the blame to themselves for themselves.

EPRP had extended to the Eritrean freedom fighters the benefit of the doubt to liberate the minds and hearts of all Eritrean as to choose soberly and freely among the agendas of independence, autonomy or federation with Ethiopia. EPRP had honestly struggled to implement these three choices by demanding first, peace in Eritrea and democracy Ethiopia. EPRP had even sent or encouraged its members and supporters to join the Eritrean struggle on individual volition.

The end result was war and not revolution. Who was responsible for this? CC (central committee)! Who were these people and how many of them? According to some written documents, they were about seventy members. Where are they now, I can not tell. Hafash Eritreans cannot distinguish between the CC of EPLF and the CC of the United States where CC means Congress and the Constitution rule.

Conclusion

On the one hand, instead of following up any study, subsequent Ethiopian governments have been sabotaging the development effort of struggle or agenda by inculcating fear instead of freedom among the people.

While on the other, four organizations were and are responsible either for the construction or destruction of Eathiopia. America, Europe and Asia or the satellite organizations around these four main organizations could not have been blamed. It is our own making. If we evaluate each organization in accordance with its stated objectives against its accomplishment, then we will have reached the bottom line or the Truth – a Truth of which we will appreciate the past and encourage the future.

Inasmuch as the governments of Haile Sellassie I, Menghistu and Issais have tried to inculcate fear about the “Red Sea”, the Meles regime has embarked on a fear of the Nile River. This is an outdated trick. The Washington demonstrators on the case of the Nile are not dummy PEOPLE. Their protest was for money not for a cause.

It is very unfortunate that Eathiopian M’HUR Akal had either access or uninitiated comfort zone of not make a primary study of the ABAY.

August 5^th demonstration that was carried out in front of the State Department or in front of the Chinese Embassy has nothing to do with real cause. It was either for financial gain or frustration.

I don’t think we need provocative governments. The Black River is neither for damned groups as in that type of demonstrators nor to be dammed for the purpose of governments. The ABBAy is Black in soil and soul. The peasants of Eathiopia will benefit without going to war diplomatically or otherwise. What is my name? Call me by my character not by my color, please.

The model of EPLF and TPLF are not to be emulated, they ought to be corrected if not eliminated. The demonstrations of August 5, 2010 are similar in style and content with the proxy war by the TPLF and ELF in Somalia. In the long run, they are unproductive if not outright harmful to all Eathiopians.

TRUTH WILL PREVAIL

For comments and questions

woldetewolde@yahoo.com

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13. August 2010 by Assimba.

August 11, 2010 at 7:10 pm (Commenatry)

Seifu Tsegaye Demmissie

The last week`s Pro- Meles Zenawi demonstration in Washington DC using the Nile as one of the rallying issues, is Zenawi`s political maneuver in the waters of the Nile. The main purpose and timing of this maneuver are all combined in a manner which is meant to send out signals of deterrent or scare Ethiopians struggling for democracy, freedom and justice. The tone of the message that came out from his mole rats who were forced to come out of their hiding burrows is that of intimidation and threats. They are typical of Zenawi`s horrible and ethno-fascistic rule. He will not achieve his political goal of keeping Ethiopians off the streets of Washington DC or any other western Capital. The marching of few TPLF and greedy souls in the streets of Washington DC will not scare Ethiopians.

The ethno-fascist Meles Zenawi has developed this false sense of total triumph over the Ethiopian opposition operating inside Ethiopia and the west where the major part of the Diaspora is based. The display of his followers and beneficiaries in the streets of Washington DC has obviously been intended to show his reach and presence in the Diaspora. However, the Nile an Ethiopian issue he should not encroach upon to provoke us. He should not be allowed to pollute or fish in our waters though he can not catch any big fish in them.

Meles Zenawi is well aware of the sensitivity of the Nile issue and the vital importance Ethiopians attach to it. Besides, he has realized the international or regional side of the issue and calculated to make a political capital or fortune out of it.  However, as Ethiopians we have long known that Zenaw`s gains have always incurred lamentable losses on our country, Ethiopia. Zenawi`s gains of any kind including his adoption as the nasty child of the Global Aid Industry, are taking their tolls on our people and country. Therefore, his political maneuvering in the waters of the Nile will never fool and make us lose sight of his anti-Ethiopia stands, treason and atrocities. Zenawi will never be in a position to win the hearts and minds of Ethiopians and garner a commanding support. Nor will he be able to achieve his stated goal of crippling and demoralizing the democratic and genuine Ethiopian opposition. Despite their temporary setbacks, the Ethiopian opposition is capable of resilience and will strengthen themselves to continue waging the popular anti-fascist struggle.

It is obvious that we are located in or the proximity of a region where water is becoming a scarce resource and will likely be the source of future conflicts or wars. The pressure on or demand for this resource is increasing as a consequence of increasing population and unfavorable climatic changes in the region. Despite facing persistent and devastating famines, Ethiopia has not used or underused its water resources including the waters of the Nile for various reasons. It is ironical to witness Ethiopia which is also called Africa`s water tower suffering from periodic drought related famines. Droughts or failing rains are not the sole causes of famine in Ethiopia. A regime in control of the fertile or productive lands of the country and on a land selling spree should take its significant share of the blame. With Zenawi in power, there will not be any wonder if the fertile lands and waters of the country end up in the hands of hostile foreign powers.

The TPLF guys and their comrades in bellies who had taken part in the pro- Zenawi demonstration in Washington DC have only brought disgrace and shame on themselves. They can not promote the image of their paymaster and his rule in Ethiopia. The Nile issue is an Ethiopian one and should be left to Ethiopians. The members and supporters of the ethno-fascist Zenawi have got nothing to do with this issue. It is important to re-emphasize that Ethiopians never expect Zenawi to be the guardian or protector of the national interests of their country. Given the vital economic as well as political dimensions of the Nile issue, Ethiopians have persisted in their demands for transparency and accountability in any dealings with it. This is justifiable because we value the issue as part of our national interests. There are reports of his earlier secretive deals with Egypt in which Zenawi has agreed to accept the current unfair arrangement regarding the use of the Nile waters. This arrangement which is known to be based on the British colonial interests favoring Egypt is unjust and unfair and is not legally binding. The parties involved can not be bound by it.

The leaders of the TPLF with Zenawi in the forefront have been ridiculing any concern and demand for the protection and promotion of Ethiopia`s national interests including its rightful access to the Red Sea, as the politics of the chauvinists or Amharas. The demonstration of Zenawi`s guys and the sellouts clad in the politics of the chauvinists in Washington DC, should not come as any to surprise Ethiopians.

Ethiopia is not only the source of most of the waters of the Nile but almost all of the fertile and rich soil making particularly significant contributions to Egyptian agriculture. The Nile has played a significant role in the emergence and growth of the ancient Egyptian civilization and is the lifeline of the present day Egypt. Various expeditions were launched to find the source of the Nile. Thus a lot is at stake in the Nile issue. The Blue Nile contributes approximately 80-90% of the Nile River discharge and 96% of the transported sediment carried by the Nile originates in Ethiopia, with 59% of the water from the Blue Nile (the rest being from Tekeze , Atbara , Sobat  and small tributaries). The erosion and transportation of silt only occurs during the Ethiopian rainy season in the summer, when rainfall is especially high on the Ethiopian Plateau; (http://en..wikpedia.org/wiki/Nile). Since the Nile is an International river, no country can justify sole ownership or an inequitable use of its waters and efforts aimed at having in place agreements for equitable and fair use of this resource are of crucial importance. The riparian countries need to work out and accept a fair and just agreement for the equitable and sustainable use of the Nile waters.

The Nile issue is a vital component of the national interest of Ethiopia which Zenawi has been damaging and undermining since his days in the bush. In fact, Zenawi in the palace has proved to be more detrimental to the national interests of Ethiopia. However, it is important to note that Ethiopia is not in a position to take care of its national interests since it is in the hands of Meles Zenawi. Egypt and the Sudan can exploit Ethiopia`s current weak position or absence to retain the former British Colonial treaty on the use of the Nile waters. As stated earlier, this treaty is known to favour Egypt and has remained contentious. Egypt`s direct or indirect hand (through other fellow Arab Countries) in destabilising Ethiopia is known to be connected to the Nile issue. It is worth recalling that Meles Zenawi has based the resolution of the so called border dispute with the Eritrean People`s Liberation Front (EPLF) on the colonial treaties which are defunct and void. He has done this deliberately or intentionally to harm and undermine the national interests and security of Ethiopia. Despite his political machinations using the Nile as an appealing issue, there is no reason for us Ethiopians to believe that Zenawi will reject the colonial treaty on the use of the waters of the Nile. His reported signing of the recent agreement among the upper stream countries can turn out to be a ploy designed to hoodwink these countries which are genuinely concerned with securing their national interests. They should be ware of Zenawi who plays a mercenary role in Africa.

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