Dear President Obama,

I am sure you do not have time to read my letter nonetheless it gives me a certain amount of release from the pain I am feeling and the little chance of this letter getting to you fills my soul with great amount of joy and hope. I am an Ethiopian immigrant currently living in California. I came to your country to go to college. I am always grateful to the American people in general and the citizens of the State of Oregon in particular that supported me in fulfilling my dream. Their graciousness in welcoming me and their generosity in helping me with financial aid to finish my education will stay in my heart forever.

Upon finishing my education I have become a productive member of society and hopefully contributed my share in making your nation a beacon of light for all of mankind. I have been blessed enough to get married to a beautiful person and raise a family. I am glad to claim I am the personification of the American dream come true. I am not writing you to ask a favor for myself but I want to tell you about the dire situation regarding the homeland I left behind a long time ago. I want to give you an idea about my country Ethiopia and the horror faced by my people in the year two thousand twelve as the rest of humanity thrives.

The source of this unbearable pain forced on my country is none other than the individual that shows up in every meeting the heads of the advanced industrialized countries attend to solve problems and plan the future. I am sure you have noticed him during picture sessions and dinner parties. He is the one who claims to represent Africa and is usually given the corner seat in the back to keep quiet and observe.

His name is Meles Zenawi and his title is chairman of TPLF party and Prime Minster of Ethiopia. He has been in power for the last twenty years. It is not that he was elected to that position since free democratic elections are not allowed but he has managed to organize sham election and rigged voting not once but five times in a row. I will tell you a few things to give you an idea of how he manages to do that.

1) Press: There is no free press in Ethiopia. There is only one local TV controlled by his party. The only radio-broadcasting unit is under his communications department. There are no independent newspapers in the country. The few that are allowed to exist are routinely harassed and their publishers and editors spend most of their time in his rubberstamp court. Today a few are in his dungeon accused of fabricated charges and plenty are forced out of the country. There is only one Internet provider and his outfit controls that. He uses Chinese technology to block any foreign TV or Radio broadcast and Internet sites. Your Voice of America broadcast is routinely jammed. Today there are more journalists and Independent Web sites outside the country than in our homeland. The Ethiopian people are kept in the dark by design.

2) Political Party and Civic organizations: The dictator does not allow real independent political parties. On paper there are over eighty political parties in the country, but they are all the creations of the dictator. The few that dare to organize independently are subjected to harassment, imprisonment and even murder. His claim that there are no worthy opposition parties is a cruel joke. In Ethiopia being an opposition party leader is a death wish. We have lost many worthy leaders in the last twenty years. Independent labor unions, civic organizations and non-government affiliated associations are not allowed. If they dare to organize they are brought under government control within a short time.

3) Administration: He has divided the country into what is known as Kilil. Kilil is a black version of Apartheid; the system the White South African set up to control black citizens. The individual appoints all Kilil administrators usually local lackeys for show purpose. His party and ethnic group controls the Army and Security service with all commanders’ hand picked from his ethnic group. Ninety nine percent of high-ranking military officials belong to the dictators ethnic group. The individual and his party inherited the dreaded Kebele system set up by the departing military dictatorship to control neighborhoods and enhanced its capability using modern means. Today the Kebele system is the eyes and ears of the TPLF party and is present in every household to terrorize and control. 

4) Economy: All land belongs to the state. The Ethiopian people are sharecroppers. When he took power twenty years ago facilitated by your State Department he created a congramolate called EFFORT controlled by his ethnic group. All major confiscated business and property were given to EFFORT and today it is the premier corporation in the country involved in banking, transportation, manufacturing, import export and the hospitality business. EFFORT is bigger than Ethiopia. Unable to grow the economy, ill prepared to unleash the creative potential of his people the dictator is currently selling our fertile and virgin land to foreign investors. This is despite the billions of aid dollars given by your country and Western Europe and the billions more written off the book from the IMF and World Bank. His sole purpose is to stay in power by bullying and enrich his ethnic group, family and friends. 

Dear Mr. President, you might think what a coward people we are to allow such and individual to do us so much harm and accept it with silence. That is not so. We were not always that docile. The simple explanation I can offer you is that he came on the scene at a very unfortunate time for us. The twenty years of military dictatorship has sapped our strength to fight back. We were caught at a time when in the name of socialism our people and country had gone thru a very traumatic process. Our moral compass was left in disarray. No one was willing to continue the self-inflicted agony we experienced. The current dictator also showed up carrying an olive branch that promised to form an all-inclusive government. Your State Department was the premier facilitator of such transfer of power from the Military to the new liberators.

Unfortunate for Ethiopia your country still is coddling and enabling the dictator. He is considered the front line in the fight against terrorism The Pentagon is pouring money and resources to train his army. He is given the green light to interfere in Somalia in the so-called war against terror. We pay the price. The US is not made safer with all the support given to the regime but the Ethiopian people are made insecure and hopeless. Today the Ethiopian people are migrating out of their homeland at an alarming rate. The young and able and the educated are leaving their country in search of a better tomorrow. Washington DC your capital is living proof of the flight of our people outwards.

We ask you to intervene and stop this human catastrophe. We believe it is the right thing to do. It is the moral thing to do. Ethiopian Americans were in the forefront of your campaign for the presidency. We were filled with hope that you will intercede and help our motherland enter the twenty first century with dignity. It has not happened. Your State Department never fails to record and publish the crimes of the Ethiopian regime. The annual report is a very alarming detailed testimony of the nature of the illegal regime and the crimes it commits against its own people. Thanks to Wikileaks we are made conscious of the terrorist acts of the security department’s involvement in setting up explosives on its own citizens and blaming the opposition. Your Ambassador was part of the cover up of this crime. It is wrong.

We would like to call your attention to the policy the US followed in the aftermath of the Second World War when it came to Europe. The US was instrumental in encouraging democratic forms of government. US aid was based on the rule of law. Sixty years later Europe enjoys the fruits of such progressive and forward-looking policy. We ask your administration follow the same principle when it comes to Africa. We deserve nothing less. We ask your administration stop coddling and enabling dictators, misfits and loathsome individuals from terrorizing their own people.

The Ethiopian people are faced with a sad dilemma. How could they fight back against a terrorist regime armed and supported by a big power like your country? It is not a fair fight by any stretch of imagination. They find it confusing that on one hand you preach democracy and human rights while on the other hand you furnish the weapons and facilitate loans from World Bank and the IMF to the their tormentor. Wouldn’t you say the US would have a lasting and worthy relationship with a strong and democratic Ethiopia rather than a country always on the verge of civil war and a pitiful hand stretched begging for food and medicine? 

The Prime Minster is showing up at your dinner table next week. We all know he has nothing to contribute to such discussion. The country he has been leading for the last twenty years is beset with famine, double digit unemployment, runaway inflation and human misery in a large scale. He has no record to be proud of. He has no opposition to shame him. His presence at this gathering is unexplainable and undeserved. His single TV station and his sole Radio broadcast will present a different picture. They will use the occasion to bully the Ethiopian people. There is no other voice to set the record straight.

We wish you would UN invitee or dis invite him. We know that will not happen. On the other hand we ask you use the occasion to make it clear to him that your constituents are not happy with his actions. We wish that you explain to him US aid goes hand in hand with the existence of the rule of law and respect for human rights. The American people are blessed to have such a caring and honorable person as a leader. You lead a very honorable and generous nation that has stood with Ethiopia in its time of need. We ask you to step forward and do the right thing at this critical moment in our history. We ask you to think of the eighty million Ethiopians that are made to suffer because on man and his ethnic based party is enabled by your country and others to run amok and brutalize. History will not look kindly at such abdication of responsibility. 

Dear Mr. President, we are aware of what happened to dictator Gadaffi. We are witnessing the unfolding human misery in Syria. That is what is waiting Ethiopia if the regime continues its mal treatment of its won citizens. That is what we are trying to avoid from happening in Ethiopia. You can help us.        

Finally we are not asking you to fight our war. We are perfectly capable of doing the job ourselves. We are simply petitioning you not to stand with the dictator. Not to give him lethal aid and training to turn his fire on us. We know it is in your power to make a stop to this enabling activity. The children of Ezana, Tewodros, Yohanes, Minilik, Aba Jifar, Tona and many others are up to the task given the opportunity. We have taken care of our business for over three thousand years and there is no reason to think we will not rise up to the occasion now. Just give us a level playing field and Green Yellow and Red will fly high on our ancient mountains and fields. 

P.S.  We have a petition on line to be presented to your office along this letter. The Web address is as follows: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/obama-stop-monster-zenawi-invitation.html

By Obo Arada Shawl

May 1, 2012

Introduction

Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) was formally founded on a week long underground conference April 2 - 9, 1972. Four decades have elapsed since that time. Is this a milestone or a tombstone? That is everybody’s inquiry.

By milestone, I mean a significant point in political development and by tombstone (with small letter t); I am referring to a tombstone where geographically Tombstone is a town in Southern east Arizona. The place of Tombstone is where a 30 second gunfight was carried out for the possession of silver mining. Tombstone is now a historical museum in Arizona. Who can say EPRP deserves a milestone (landmark political history in Ethiopia and Eritrea) or a museum like Tombstone in Arizona, please stand up!

I hope this article will answer at least the basic questions whether EPRP deserves a milepost in the modern Eathiopian history or a tombstone with no epitaph.

At any time in history & cultureβ, of people, questions of unity, sovereignty and peace of a country comes up frequently. The case of Ethiopia or Eritrea is no exception to these concepts. I stand witness to the political history as well as culture of both countries of Eritrea and Ethiopia aka ኤትዮጵያ- Eathiopia

What was EPRP’s position on Unity, sovereignty (democracy) and Peace? Who were its members and supporters? What were the mission and vision of EPRP? Did the Party have political philosophy/ideology? Above all did the Party have a plan of action? Last but not least, does the Party still exist?

I would like to answer the above questions albeit briefly within the framework of my personal and societal obligation and not political affiliation.

EPRP’s position on Unity, Democracy and Peace

Everyman’s approach towards understanding the above concepts could not be uniform; some elements of EPRP were anti intellectual while the Party’s real position was anti elitism. There is a real difference between these two concepts. The former concept of intellectual is about reason while the latter elite relates about the status of individuals in society. For this reason, there were lots of row among Ethiopian and Eritrean college students during the Revolutionary struggle. Political history reveals that Eritrean college professors and students freely interchange elitism with nationalism. They have avoided philosophy – the basis for reasoning. That may be irrelevant with today’s selfish generation but it was not with the selfless generation of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

What is Unity?

Among leaders of EPRP, unity is sought from diversity. For this reason, the Party was popular. It is a fact that the Ethiopian Student Movement that culminated in the formation of EPRP emerged victorious simply for its diversity not only on issues of personality but also with ideas and issues of the day.

Diversity was not only symbolic as in ritual or heroes but also in values as well. Even during the Third phaseз of EPRP’s struggle, it is documented that EPRP was for diversity. Debteraw once wrote “we have said vive la difference.” He wrote this even when the Party was driven out of Tigrai province. So unity in EPRP’s parlance is beyond words. It has essence and substance.

What about democracy? The core venue of EPRP was democracy. Its symbol, its slogan and its rhetoric was/is democracy and/or DEMOCRACIA. That is, small d for its members and capital D for its associates and supporters. Before the world raises the slogan of democracy to signify for individuals and as well as for communities. EPRP was way ahead of the concept and its future significance. In actual fact, I know no organization in Africa’s liberation movements that sacrificed for or rallied around democracy so much. I would tend to think these days that EPRP (d) is a microcosm of the Party element despite many allegations and innuendoes. Capital letter D or small letter d is no alien concepts for those who really understand and follow the nature of EPRP. It is no different than saying WE and ME interchangeably.

So much so, the party’s main political organ was named locally democracy - ዴሞክራሲያ DEMOCRACIA - ዲሞክራሲያ. Actually, EPRP and its members have “cried” so to speak for 40 years. Thanks to its members and associates that they made it possible for the word to become a household word in Eathiopia. Historical documents reveal that EPRP’s milestone for democracy goes back half a century ago. Its martyred members and supporters deserve a shaped tombstone engraved with a plaque, pillar, cross, tablet, shrine, obelisk, memorial or any other inscription written as “remember me for D and d”- showing unity in diversity.

What about peace? Why was it necessary for EPRP to coalesce around peace? Peace is the only valuable asset for any body or community to survive and prosper. Without peace, Eathiopia couldn’t have survived for millennia. And so the Eathiopian Student Movement asked the then Ethiopian Imperial government to bring peace to Bale, Godjam and above all to Eritrea. Eritrea has been separated from Ethiopia for sixty years and it has made an impact at least politically among progressive student activists. There was a need to negotiate for peace with Eritreans. One of EPRP’s hall of fame was the struggle for peace in Eritrea. EPRP has never advocated for war in Eritrea. As I have repeatedly argued that EPRP’s also known as EPRA was a አንቂ - self-defense army.

EPRP’s members honestly believed that Eritrea would not cede from Ethiopia provided peace and democracy prevailed. A Referendum could have solved the Eritrean case. See my article on Referendum on Imblta dated …

Who were the supporters of EPRP? Who were/are its members? It is impossible to document members and associate members of the Party. The only way to find out is when and if peace and democracy reigns in Eathiopia. Although the party functions clandestinely, its members and associates relate through its party, army and mass organizations such as workers union, women, teachers, traders and professionals and the Youth. As long as there is a slogan for democracy and peace, everyone and everybody in Eathiopia relates to EPRP. That is the glue upon which the Party survives against all odds.

As far as communication and relationship are concerned, I have come to realize that the Party members, leaders and others communicate in their daily lives in the following manner.

• EPRP members communicate Heart to Heart
• EPRP leaders communicate Head to Head
• EPRP supporters communicate Soul to Soul

What about it mission and vision? I personally believed that the Party’s vision would be one Flag, one Fidel and many freedoms. Now, we have two flags, different alphabets and few freedoms. EPRP’s mission was to distribute land to the tillers, make the bureaucracy efficient and to honor national bourgeois. That meant three thronged fight anti-feudalism; anti-bureaucracy and anti-imperialism i.e. both imperialism of America and Soviet Union – was time honored struggle. Whether this time honored struggle is obvious to the common man is another question. But the Party’s vision for hardworking and discipline was clear. Eathiopians inside the country and abroad are seen to work hard though for the wrong reason. The current governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia push for cash value. EPRP used to advocate for Education for the value of education is inculcated in May Day which means that the value of work will translate into the love of humanity and prosperity. EPRP’s mission and vision go hand in hand.

How about its philosophy or ideology? It was well known among the student movement who galvanized the Ethiopian Revolution to follow philosophy. What do we mean by philosophy? Ethiopian University students at that time used to believe in the philosophy of poverty whereas the Eritreans laurel themselves in the poverty of philosophy. For Eritrean students philosophy was meant to get more information about the world, their birth place and themselves whereas for Ethiopian students, philosophy was meant to be useful to help them understand the things they already know and to understand them better than previous eras. Eritreans were looking to natural/social sciences and above all for colonial history. Unfortunately, Ethiopian history on colonialism was bitter to swallow.

The Adwa case was a point of reference. Unless and otherwise Eritreans and Ethiopians namely the MI (Meles & Issais) partners and their followers resolve their differences on this issue, it will continue to add fuel like that of Badme for generations to come. Adwa III should take precedence over Adwa I and Adwa IIµ.

What was the plan of action?

EPRP members have organized themselves to narrow this gap by thinking philosophically. It was done meticulously step by step to identify their class enemy ማንቃት - Mankat, get them organized - ማደራጀት Maderajet and empower ማስታጠቅ - Mastatek - people with resources. Their opponents such as EPLF and TPLF worked backwards. They armed their people before they educate them. While Meison, another arch enemy of EPRP confused the Eathiopian populace by rearranging the steps as staggered as first, second and third, the Party of EPRP would carry simultaneously its mission.

Meison’s mission was without purpose, it was as if changing people to bricks. EPRP’s act was purposefully done. That is to say there was some goal they all have in mind. In other words, the difference between Meison and EPRP was philosophical between Means and Ends. EPRP’s thinking was always in the Means not in the Ends. የትም ፍጪው ዱቄቱን አምጪው - did/does not reverberate with EPRP.

The ideology of EPRP was common experience and common sense. In order to assess EPRP’s struggle for Revolutionary change, one needs a sustained reflection and reasoning. A three-hours reading per day was a requirement to become a full member of EPRP. While the reading materials mostly reflect that of Leftist literature, there was no restriction not to read other books of interest. It is no wonder that the party was rigid as it could be. E pluribus Unum meaning many uniting into one (out of many one) as in EPRP d and D.

Does the Party Exist?

The question is perhaps the single most relevant one for both Eritreans and Ethiopians. But for me, it is one of the dumpiest questions I have so far encountered in my urban life.

By urban life, I mean those sections of the population who lived or travelled along the five routes that radiate from Addis Ababa.

That is the main arterial roads going from

1.      AA to Asmara via Wolo and Tigrai

2.      AA to Asmara via Godjam and Gondar.

3.      AA to Kurmuk via Wellega.

4.      AA to Gambella via Illubabor.

5.      AA to the main arterial networks going from Addis Ababa to the rest of the country, south, south east, south  west and east to Assab.

The inhabitants who live along these routes definitely know the government and business sectors. The power of the government officials and cash of the merchants play a heavy handed role for the consumers. In other words, they are at the mercy of government officials for their lives and services. Under these towns no one was a citizen or a consumer in the real sense of the word. Whoever demands for public or private service, the government police and courts are right after them.

I don’t believe these injustices and corruption has changed neither during the Derg nor under the TPLF regimes for these sectors of the economy. Those who ask for the rights of consumers or for any other citizens right, they were labeled as anarchists, anti-revolution, secessionist or members of EPRP.

What about those who live abroad who want to return to their home countries but could not? They are basically EPRP at heart. That is, their desire for personal freedom and social justice is the same as that of EPRP.

Urban development in Eathiopia has taken place along the roads.  This trend has not changed much. It is possible even today that the urban population knows or hears about the Party of DEMOCRACIA as the word democracy has penetrated deep into the psychic of all urban dwellers. Thanks to the sacrifice of EPRP members and supporters. The survival of EPRP is equivalent to the flourishing of democracy in Eathiopia.

Conclusion

Two years after the formal foundation of EPRP in April 1972, the Portuguese dictatorial regime who ruled for fifty years has collapsed. On that year the American President Richard Nixon resigned. It was a bad omen for the Empire of Ethiopia. Nationalists came to power everywhere and Marxist began to shore up for power. The spirit of democratic value was enshrined among the members of EPRP. Democracy was neither a luxury nor a Western concept as was envisaged by the opponents of EPRP. Democracy has a universal value. That was neither Russian nor American. It was Eathiopian too. The exchange of prize between Wallelign and Zewge Fanta was a case in point.

To concretize it, we have stated that EPRP has a vision, a mission, and a goal and a plan of action, what’s needed is a resource or budget to implement it.

Fortunately or unfortunately, EPRP are those who sacrifice their land, property, and their lives to the cause of the Eathiopian Revolution. The Eathiopian Revolution is a continuum. It is a human race for peace not prosperity as the current Meles government attempt to portray a distorted picture of Eathiopian realty.

But who leads this Eway Revolution of Ethiopia. Obviously, it has started 40 years ago and it is still continue to the present day. The journey will end in 2013 as predicted.

The Heavenly Stars have existed to hover over Eathiopia since the beginning of life on Earth. One can see with a naked eye. No one needs a telescope or a microscope in the land of Adam and Eve. One needs to synchronize the heart and the mind. The mind for the microscope and the heart for the telescope - that is the Eathiopian way or the EPRP way.

PostScript

What’s more interesting is the fact that the Stars gave us direction as to how to relate and follow them with our heart via DOB.

Where is Tupac? That is the question for African American

Where is Haile Sellasie I? That is the question for Ras Tefferians.

Where is Debteraw? That question was asked by Getachew Redda of Semay. There was no follow up though. May be Getachew is looking up in the sky. But I know that DEBTERAW IS NOT DEAD. He is here on Earth. Our mission is to find him before aliens find him. He belongs to the Human race. He is ours.

The search for DEBTERAW is the key to reconciliation and for maintenance of the Peace Machine. DEBTERAW represents rebel with a cause, arts & culture; philosophy/religion; compassion/passion; and above all courage to bring freedom to “d” and “D” and justice to all humanity. Let us immortalize him.  

TRUTH WILL

For questions and comments

woldetewolde@yahoo.com

β History & Culture = ዘር፤ the current government confuses Ge’ez with Latin letters

з ABC = Anja-Bitena-Continuum: This sequence is only relevant for the Party Organ.

µ Adwa I is about colonial history (1896-1941) : Adwa II is an assault on culture & religion (1974-Present) AAdwa III is the struggle to defend Adwa I and to counter-attack Adwa II

“A pregnant woman who only gave birth to a child during the night was thrown out on the street the following morning along with her mattress and child who is just a few hours old (neonate). Pregnant Amara women have been forced to flee their homes. Many children as young as 8 months of age have been locked up in prison along with their lactating mothers and they have nothing to eat or drink thereby suffering from hunger. A farmer who individually was able to own as many as 3000 tree plants of coffee, avocado, mango, papaya and banana has been forced to leave behind everything and flee. Those farmers who had many bee hives and had engaged in poultry and dairy farm had to leave behind all their wealth. All these Amara farmers were told by the local authorities that as you came empty-handed, you cannot take along with you anything. Armed government officials threaten the Amara farmers with imprisonment on false charges of burning forest, terrorist activities and illegal possession of weapons. There are farmers who have been imprisoned on such false charges and some others have appeared before the court on such false charges. After confiscating and tearing into pieces identity cards of these Amara farmers, the local government authorities have subsequently accused these Amara farmers of travelling without an identity card and roughed them up and subjected them to suffering”.

Excerpt taken from appeal letter (dated 27 March 2012) written by the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) chairman Hailiu Shawel to prime minister Meles Zenawi regarding the forced eviction and deportation of 78000 Amharas from Bench-Maji in southern Ethiopia.

Hereafter I reproduce personal Testimony of an Amara who has been forcibly displaced in a draconian measure that amounts to ethnic cleansing from Gura Ferda district in southern Ethiopia. It is based on an interview a VOA reporter conducted with the victim by telephone.

“Amaras have been put or squeezed into a grain sack and subsequently beaten by the local officials. These Amaras were forced to feed on sand. They were yoked like draught animals and subsequently beaten. One person who was beaten in such manner has been incapacitated so much that he cannot stand any more and he is now under treatment in hospital”.

As I was writing this article, I heard how the houses of the displaced people, along with all belongings of the displaced Amhara peasants, were set on fire by the TPLF regime on the eve of the Ethiopian Easter so that these peasants may not have any reason to return to their houses by way of collecting or selling their properties. This is a cruel act of the TPLF regime which will go down in history as unforgettable act that we would immortalize so that posterity may not repeat such deeds that defy any rational explanation.

Do Ethiopians Have Constitutionally Guaranteed Citizenship Right Under TPLF?

Article 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia states that:

“All sovereign power resides in the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of
Ethiopia”.

Ethnic federalism to which TPLF, including all the ethnic-based parties subscribe is premised on the ethno-nationalist principle which holds that ethno-linguistic or cultural boundaries must coincide with political boundaries. The logical sequel of this ethno-nationalist principle is that cultural/ethnic and political boundaries are not allowed to cross cut each other. The Ethiopian constitution reflects this principle. According to article 8 which I quoted above, the individual citizen of Ethiopia as an embodiment of sovereignty does not exist. In a democratic system, sovereignty emanates from the unified consent of individuals who agree to give their support to the state that governs them on the basis of freedom and equality. In a democratic system, free individual citizens bestow their unified will on the democratic state. The unified will of the individual citizens becomes the popular sovereignty which invests the democratic state with the supreme authority that emanates from this popular consent of individual citizens. This is what we call popular sovereignty which places ultimate authority in the people. This sovereignty is expressed through the choice individuals make in electing their representatives who form a government and would be subject to election and recall at any time. (Donald S. Lutz, Popular Consent and Popular Control: Whig Political Theory in the Early State Constitutions (Louisiana State Univ. Press, 1980)

Ethnic federalism bestows rights on the so-called “nations, nationalities and peoples” that are in the case of Ethiopia represented by ethnic elites that are picked out by the TPLF bosses. As such Ethiopians become citizens of their respective ethnic region and not citizens of Ethiopia. The current constitution defines rights of an Ethiopian as being premised on the ethnically-based territory or Killil. Under such political construction, an Amara has no right to speak of outside the ethnically designated Killil called Amara Killil. The concomitant of article 8 of the current constitution is that it nullifies all the rights which are stated in the constitution such as the right of free movement of people to go from one region and settle in another ethnic region and earn a living. In what she dubs “the idiosyncrasy of the Ethiopian federal system”, Lovise Aalen a Norwegian anthropologist who conducted an extensive research for her PhD thesis on the politics of Ethnicity in Ethiopia observes that the “assumption that every citizen is an ethnic citizen makes the Ethiopian system very different from other federal systems in the world”. Source: Lovise Aalen, “The Politics of Ethnicity in Ethiopia: Actors, Power & Mobilisation under Ethnic Federalism” 2011.

What many Ethiopians fail to realize about the current political system based on ethnic federalism is that this system does not recognize citizenship right that entitles a native of Ethiopia his or her right that extends over every inch of the Ethiopian realm or territory. As such the present Ethiopian constitution cannot be counted on to uphold the right of an Ethiopian as the constitution recognize no Ethiopian citizenship, but ethnic Amaras, Oromos, Tigreans, Gurages, Somalis, etc. The constitution recognizes citizenship that is bound up with one’s ethnic identity and ethno linguistic region. The present constitution has created two groups of people in every ethnic Killil. The first group concerns those who are considered to be the indigenous people to the area i.e. “sons of the soil”. This group of people are given preferential treatment in terms of rights compared to the second group of people (often ethnic minorities) who are seen as second class citizens with no constitutional rights to speak of and whose existence is dependent on the good will of the local ethnic Killil leaders or their Tigrean bosses at the center. Any one who is outside his/her ethnically designated region is treated as an alien with no rights to claim or defend. Hence the propensity of Tigrean entrepreneurs of hate to use this legal loophole to ethnically cleanse southern Ethiopia of the Amharas the TPLF perceives as its historical nemesis. TPLF is undertaking the ethnic cleansing of Amharas through the agency of its proxy representatives Mr. Shifferaw Shigute. In present-day Ethiopia the only people who are not adversely affected by this rule are the Tigreans who as members of the ruling Tigrean regime have every right to settle in every part of Ethiopia and prosper even at the expense of others with the full support and favour of the incumbent state which protects them. The sad thing about ethnic federalism which denies Ethiopians their right as citizens of that country is that this dangerous and inhumane system of government is not only embraced by the ethno-nationalist TPLF but also by ethnic-based opposition parties that subscribe to ethnic federalism.

The Social Construction of the “Amara Enemy” by TPLF

Some of you may have read about the recent forced displacement and deportation of Amaras from southern Ethiopia. This diabolic act is not an isolated one nor did it come out of the blue. It is part of a cumulative process of demonization of the Amara ethnic group which has been going on for decades now. And in the last 21 years, the Amara people have been made the main targets of vilification, demonization, discrimination, etc by the TPLF government that has mobilized the whole media and state machinery at its disposal towards this goal of criminalizing the identity of Amaras as a people. The incessant propaganda the TPLF and its cohorts mounted has targeted the Amaras . This propaganda has succeeded in reducing the Amara people into a population that is fit for any act of dehumanization by groups such as TPLF who continue to perpetrate atrocities with impunity against the Amaras they identified as their mortal enemies. During 21 years of TPLF’s rule, the Amaras have served as convenient punch-bags of every anti-Amara group that project its hatred on Amaras. All these happened with the direct encouragement and incitement of the TPLF. As the following quotations show, for the last 38 years, the TPLF has been working tirelessly to create an enemy image of the Amara ethnic group it loathes and abhors most. And for this, the founders of TPLF and the Tigrean elites bear responsibility. In an anthropological research conducted for his PhD thesis among Tigrayans, the Tigrean Alemseged Abbay, one of the research questions which he posed to those Tigrayans he interviewed was the following. Whom do Tigrayans perceive as their foremost historical enemies and he came with the following result that overwhelmingly showed that Amaras represented their historical enemies.

“The historical enemies of Tigrayan informants (82,1%) start & end with Amhara (Shoa) & only 10.7% included Turkey & Italy in the list of their historical enemies”. See Alemseged Abbay’s book entitled: Identity Jilted or Re-imagining Identity?

“Moreover, since the people of Tigrai had the dominant Amara as their adversary, the media had mobilized the people and united the militant forces to deal an outward blow”.
Source: “How the media of the TPLF Emerged & Countered the Dominant Media of the Ethiopian State: Could it be a Viable Alternative for Societal Transformation? by Aregawi Berhe, Institute of Social Studies, Hague, the Netherlands, 1992”

Here comes another text which I quote from Aregawi’s paper written in 1993 as his master’s thesis at the Institute of Social Studies:

“The defeat of the Italians at Adwa gave Menelik immense power over his potential rivals, particularly the Tigrean nobility under Mengesha Yohannes and Alula Aba Nega. Menelik had the opportunity to divide and weaken Tigrai. His army was let loose to devastate as much as the colonial army did. The people remember this period as “Zemene Shoa” which means the “era under Shoa”i. Source: Aregawi Berhe: “Origins and Development of the National Movement in Tigrai - A Socio-economic Analysis”, 1993 – Institute of Social Studies, the Hague
Aregawi Berhe,who wrote the above lines in 1993 accusing emperor Menelik of dividing, weakening and devastating Tigrai by equating emperor Menelik;s alleged record of destruction with the Italian colonial army, tried to present himself later as an innocent person who does not share this hateful thoughts which I quoted from his work. Instead Aregawi blamed the present TPLF leaders such as Sebhat Nega for accusing Menelik of pillaging the villages of Tigrai in the following way. Here comes Aregawi again who in his book published in 2009, wrote the following lines blaming his former comrade-in-arms such as Sebhat Nega by way of washing out his hand.

“Cultural events, theatrical performances as well as jokes and derogatory remarks were used to disseminate this poisonous attitude. Fuelling some historical grudges perpetrated by the ruling classes, the Sibhat faction tried to cast doubt on the possibility of living in unity with “the Amhara”. While they stressed how emperor Menelik’s army pillaged the property of Tigraian people during its Adwa campaign, the damage the same forces had also incurred on the Amhara or Agew peasants was intentionally ignored. These lopsided historical presentations were noted and ciriticized by friendly organizations like the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement (EPDM). Source: Aregawi Berhe, A Political History of the TPLF (1975-1991): Revolt, Ideology and Mobilisation in Ethiopia, 2009, Tsehai publishers.

From the two quotations which I presented to readers regarding Aregawi’s attempt at covering up his own written statement which is informed by ethnic hate, show how this self-styled “opposition leader” is dishonest about what he did and believes in. Here Aregawi is caught red-handed while trying to cheat the Ethiopian public thinking that his records are not known to other Ethiopians. Aregawi and the other TPLF sharks who currently masquerade as opposition figures should realize that there are Ethiopians like my self who watchfully follow their track and put their records out on the open so that Ethiopians may not be cheated by them once again. It is not a sin to hold any political opinion in the past or present however wicked the opinion may sound. But it is shameful to appear to be what one is not as Aregawi has been trying to do long after he claimed that he has distanced himself from the TPLF and joined the opposition rank. The Ethiopian proverb ድመት መንኩሳ አመሏን አትረሳ expresses best Aregawi’s dishonest behaviour that I have shown above with incontrovertible evidence.

The Demonization of the Amaras: a prelude to Ethnic Cleansing

Before one group (in-group or one’s own group) targets another group (an out-group or enemy group) for genocide, it subjects the other or out-group to a barrage of propaganda war aimed at dehumanizing the out-group whose identity it seeks to erase or destroy. This is what TPLF, its supporters and even its opponents (members of the Ethiopian opposition groups such as the OLF, ONLF, etc) have tried to do against the Amaras. TPLF and its associates have consistently tried to depict the Amaras as rapacious exploiters, invaders, blood-suckers, breast-amputators, national oppressors, parasites, etc. The catalogues of negatively charged epithets that have been hurled at the Amaras are too long to exhaust here and all these epithets have tried to place Amaras out of the realm of human community by equating Amaras to parasites. The Amaras have been invested with all kinds of enemy images that have tended to portray Amaras as less than human beings or monsters that should be dealt a crushing blow (for a discussion of the enemy images in which Aharas have been held, read the book by the Norwegian anthropologist Kjetil Tronvoll entitled “War and the Politics of Identity in Ethiopia: the Making of Enemies and Allies in the Horn of Africa” published in 2009). The Amaras have been excluded from the scope of morality thereby reducing them to sub-human creatures that are fit for abuse, humiliation and degrading treatment including forced displacement, deportation, ethnic cleansing and massacre. When people such as the Amaras in present day Ethiopia are excluded from the scope of morality and made to be perceived as psychologically distant people, their lives become expendable and any kind of mistreatment meted out to these Amaras that as a group have been reduced to a status of a sub-human creature, becomes justified.

This is Part I of my article which has been broken down into five parts (so understand that the other four parts will follow soon)

April 14, 2012

By Tesfay Atsbeha and Kahsay Berhe

The inhuman measures of expelling Ethiopians from their own country in the district of Gura Ferda should outrage all Ethiopians. How can hardworking innocent farmers, women and children who were living legally be deprived of their houses, farmland and belongings and evicted by force, simply because they are ethnic Amharas? The root cause of this crime is the backward and divisive ethnic politics of Meles Zenawi.

Since tyrants normally fear the elite of a people whom they want to subjugate, they try to destroy or weaken the elite as Hitler and Stalin did in Poland and the Italian fascists did in Ethiopia. A similar repressive policy has been causing a brain drain in Ethiopia in the last decades. On the top of that, Meles is harassing poor and harmless people like the Amharas, Anuaks and Afars, who do not pose a threat to his power.

Gold and wax on the form of organization

According to the internal magazine of the Marxist- Leninist League of Tigray (MLLT) called: “May Day” in the late 1980s, the Amharas should not be organized as Amharas and the cadres of Meles, like Addis Alem Balema (later Ambassador, etc…) were sent to convince the members of the MLLT in Europe of the alleged need that the Amharas should not be ethnically organized. It would have sufficed to pass orders to the members of the TPLF/MLLT in Tigray to let them accept whatever Meles wanted, but the members in Europe asked why the form of organization should not be left for the Amharas themselves to decide. They were told that the Russians who were members of the oppressor nation like the Amharas were organized as Party committees of Petrograd and Moscow by the Bolsheviks and not as Russians. The discussion grew hot. The participating members in a meeting in London told Addis Alem that they have neither the right to decide on how Amharas should organize themselves nor the duty to imitate whatever the Russians did and rejected the proposal.

The discussion looked like a combination of gold and wax. Meles seemed to see ethnicity as a source of as well as a danger for his power at the same time. Whereas ethnic division would enable him to divide and rule, he wouldn’t succeed if the Amharas and Oromos got their own respective independent organisations. The Amharas would be too strong if they organized themselves ethnically and those who opposed meddling in the rights of the Amharas suspected what Meles wanted, but they could not discuss openly to avoid being incriminated by Meles for opposing what he did not present openly. Therefore the indirect agitation (the Russian argument) was unanimously (except the cadres of Meles) opposed by the participants.

It is a paradox. Meles seems to fear the Amharas not only because they have the experience and the potential to remove him from power, but also because they stand for Ethiopian unity. Although his history will be associated with Ethiopia as he is (mis) ruling the country, Meles is opposed to all who stand for the unity of all Ethiopians. This is the reason why Meles lumps together the multi-national organizations to bogeymen as interhamwe, chauvinists, neftegna and remnants of the Derg. Meles also hated the EPRP more than any other organization in Ethiopia not because it is an Amahra Organization, since many Tigrayans and other non-Amharas in leadership positions belonged to its founders, but because it is for the unity of Ethiopia and it was aware of his machinations. Of course, Meles used to say that the source of the dangerousness of the EPRP was the attractiveness of its program to the petty bourgeoisie.

The TPLF and the puppet organizations

When the All Amhara People’s Organization (AAPO) came into being, Meles was forced to declare the formation of his own Amhara organization called Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) led by non-Amharas. It was the Ethiopian people’s Democratic Movement (EPDM) which was renamed to ANDM. Some members of the EPRP who didn’t want to continue the struggle as members of the EPRP, who had neither their own program nor the ability to form an independent organization went over to the TPLF. They were at first disarmed in the vicinity of Abergelle by the TPLF but not treated as POWs, because they came to the TPLF voluntarily while the fighting between the TPLF and the EPRP was going on. They might have taken a pre-emptive measure to avoid being taken prisoner. Most of them went abroad and the remaining few formed the EPDM with the help of the TPLF. To their credit, they had already struggled as members of the EPRP and they decided to continue the struggle, instead of giving up. The EPDM was created as a puppet of Meles who dissected it into ethnic components with some transplantation in its leadership. In all fairness, the difference between the members of the TPLF on the one hand and the other members of the EPRDF like the ANDM, OPDO and SEPDM is that the TPLF was formed by its own members while the others were formed by the TPLF even from prisoners of war. In other words, the TPLF was unlike the others, not a puppet in the beginning.

The homogenization of the members of the EPRDF as Puppets

The similarity of all EPRDF members (except Meles) is their homogenization as puppets. None of them has the right to express his/her own opinion, if the opinion differs from that of the tyrant. Some of the members are, owing to the fact that they are puppets, very powerful and rich puppets.

Gura Ferda and shame to the members of the EPRDF

Why are there no members of the EPRDF with a bit of courage to rescue their compatriots in Gura Ferda? Many Ethiopians would have gone to the streets to demonstrate against the inhuman treatment of Ethiopians in Gura Ferda if they had no fear of the members of the EPRDF who maintain tyranny. If there are some EPRDF members who care for their people they must first free themselves.

The perpetrators of Gura Ferda should be accused of committing crimes against humanity, because “these offences constitute a serious attack on human dignity, grave humiliation and degradation of more human beings” according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The victims should be compensated and helped to return to their farms.

By Yilam Bekele

Most locations are just bland places. There is not much variation in the topography. Look at Google satellite map of Africa and you will see what I mean. Endless flat land, a stretch of desert, an occasional river or a few hills is the norm. Our Ethiopia is different. In the North we have the Semen Mountains rearing high as if trying to reach heaven. With their rugged nature and sharp escarpments they kept us safe for centuries. They were our natural defense. The North is keeper of our old history. With its exotic monasteries, ancient obelisks it is here Jesus walked and Mohamed (may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) sent his family for safety.

In the East our low lands are as fierce as the warriors they give birth to. There is no place lower than Afar depression on mother Earth. Loo and behold today it is considered the birthplace of the Human race. It is here mankind is thought to have become bipedal. 

The West is where the mighty Nile flows with our water and soil to nurture that other civilization in the land of the Pharos and the great pyramids. It is also home to the famous tropical forests of Gambella and every animal life one can think of. With its lush landscape and colorful people this is where man feels one with nature. 

The South is where God took his sweet time to create paradise. Who would deny that after visiting the Rift Valley? The lakes of Langano, Shala and Hawasa, the caves of Wolayeta, the natural splendor of Arba Minch, the hot springs of Wondo Genet make a grownup cry with joy. Our creator blessed us with beauty and wealth when he made our home.

The South is also where God’s curse has befallen us for all our sins. He sent us Meles Zenawi to teach us the price of vanity.  I am really sorry to write in such a way in this week of Easter. But truth has to be told. Meles Zenawi is a curse on the land of the Habeshas. Such venomous hate one might say. I believe I am entitled to that. For twenty years the regime has rained death and destruction on our land and people. I am not imaging it. All what I say is verifiable fact and recorded history. Spare me your tolerance and indignation please. You wouldn’t think that if you stand in the shoes of the discarded and displaced.

You see my friend our TPLF leaders grew up isolated and alone in their little hamlets up north. There was no diversity. To Adwa and vicinity as Gertrude Stein will say ‘there is no there, there.’ That is why when they conquered our country they did not know what to do with the South. The diversity confounded our warriors. They know that they hated the Amhara, they loathed the Oromo, they were not really concerned about the Afar, the Gambellan, or the Somali but the South was a foreign land to our northern warriors. That is why when they created the Bantustans they lumped all the Southerners into one big bowl and named it ‘Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region.’ What a defangled name is what comes to mind when you hear this twisted designation.

The South is where TPLF asserted total control unlike in the other Bantustans. The South is where Meles Zenawi exercises his renowned divide and rule principles as an art. TPLF arrived with ready-made political Parties for every Bantustan they created. Local faces were chosen from the prisoners of war they have acquired during their struggle. The puppets were already versed in accepting their TPLF masters as the final word on any and all issues. Thus all the local boys were assigned a baby sitter or a minder from Adwa. The South has Abate Kisho a Sidama with Bitew Belay as the real power. Corporal Kuma Demeksa of Oromia was taken under the wing of Solomon Tsimo and Hilawi Yesuf lorded it over Addisu Legesse in the Amhara Bantustan. 

Abate Kisho was a simple sports teacher from the town of Leku near Yirgalem. He was not at all ready for prime time and it showed. He even has the audacity to side with one faction over the other during the TPLF drama. It was pathetic to see Meles haul his ass to jail with some trumped up charge. The current Foreign Minster replaced him as the new toy. By 2001 the Sidama people were becoming hip to this patronizing practice and demanded a certain amount of autonomy or self-administration as granted by the Constitution. Meles replied with tough love and sent his Agazi forces to teach them a lesson. Even the US State Department noted this wanton murder of unarmed protesters in Hawasa. Melese Marimo the vice president and perpetrator of this crime was rewarded for his ordering of the massacre by being sent to South Africa as an Ambassador, of course with the First Secretary a TPLF cadre in charge. That is the normal operating procedure in all the Embassies.

The issue percolated and during the election of 2005 the Southerners answered by siding with CUD (Kinijit) and were able to trounce the regime’s candidates. In 2006 Meles convened a meeting in Hawasa and was able to mollify the locals with some bizarre actions. The renaming of ‘Southern University’ to ‘Hawasa University’ was seen as a triumph of Sidama assertiveness. The current puppet Shiferaw Shigute was crowned as the new face of Southern independence. Abate Kisho was released from Federal prison and sent back home poor but alive and a good symbol of what could happen when natives fill their head with funny notion of being equal.

Of course the raping and pillage of the south continued unabated. There was no stone left unturned to cultivate animosity between the different tribes and keep them at each others throat. The Sidamas were made to compete with the Wolaitas, the Siltes were divorced from the Gurages, and the Konsos were made to envy the Derasas etc. etc. The cadres encouraged turmoil and civil war. As in the rest of our country Southern Ethiopia was full of drama with the TPLF active in every village fanning the hate flame.

Ethiopianess was discouraged while allegiance to tribe was glorified. Meles and company have done their homework in how to create havoc on our country while in their caves. They did not dream of building hospitals, schools or factories but were busy drawing maps, creating language barriers and perfecting the Kilil concept. The South was their dream come true. Our common language was their first casualty. It was deemed inappropriate. Trained teachers were sent away to their respective Bantustans and the English alphabet became the language of the schools in Sidama. Without adequate preparation, without trained teachers, without books available the Southern children were left to fend for themselves. It was sad to witness a simple application that has to be written in one language to be translated to another when it reaches Hawasa the capital city. The South was made unable to communicate within its own Bantustan. It was a crime. The TPLF party was the orchestrator of such tragedy.

Shiferaw Shigute is the Frankenstein monster Meles created. He is the son of Meles Zenawi. Like his parent he is devoid of empathy and proud of his betrayal of his people. Look at him closely and you will see Meles - indifferent, arrogant and know it all. From his expensive Savile raw suit with matching ties to his air of superiority he is the kind that makes his maker proud. When his own Party found him guilty of abuse of power and voted to oust him, our fearless step child thumbed his nose at the assembly and said “I did not do this alone, we shared the money with the wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Azeb Mesfin. If we are going to be accountable, we should both judged by the law. If we have to return the Birr, we both have to return it” and stormed out of the meeting. His stepfather reversed the decision of the assembly. Like father like son! It is Shiferaw Shigute practicing ethnic cleansing today or rather it is Meles Zenawi using his toy boy that is displacing our people. It is the concept of Kilil coming home to roost.

Why am I going thru all this recounting our ugly history is a valid question? It is because the past is important to avoid making the same mistakes again. We learn so we don’t repeat that which has not worked. I am not obsessing about the things that we cannot control but rather I am hoping we learn from it so we can focus on tomorrow where we have the power to build a better Ethiopia. The do’s and don’ts of today are based on the lesson from the success and failures of yesterday.

Thus we learn from human history to see what works and what to avoid. The quest for liberation and a building a better Ethiopia for all will be accomplished if based on that principle. Each and every one of us is the building stone for it to succeed. Some folks were upset because I criticized a few physicians for their enabling activity regarding building a ‘referral hospital’ in our country. People feel upset when asked to boycott Ethiopian Airlines or avoid drinking Woyane beer. We advocate such action not out of hate but precisely because such form of ‘peaceful resistance’ have proven to work. There was a time when the West led by Britain and the US tried to justify their investment in South Africa by claiming they were creating jobs for the poor African masses. It was not true. They were realizing huge profit from slave labor.

What did Black South African say about that? Steven Biko, the charismatic young leader wrote ‘those who professed to worry over Blacks suffering if the economy deteriorated had missed the point. We’re already suffering’ He often reminded us ‘those who live in constant fear of being shot, beaten, or detained without charge, for those whose children already live in abject poverty and near starvation, an economic downturn is not the major area of concern.’ Nobel Laureate Albert Lutuli, president of the African National Congress in one of his speeches said

“The economic boycott of South Africa will entail undoubted hardship for African. We do not doubt that. But if it is a method which shortens the day of bloodshed, the suffering to us will be a price we are willing to pay.”

We are not saying anything different. Your investment in Meles’s land scheme, your patronizing Meles’s Airlines, your partying in Alamudi’s hotels, your support of the so-called hospital is hurting our people. No need to qualify it with good and bad investment, it all goes to the same pot.

As some of us are preparing to celebrate Easter let us not forget what it really means. Easter is Jesus Christ’s victory over death. It is a time of renewal and rebirth. Let us work for the rebirth of our glorious history. Let us resurrect the spirit of our forefathers that stood united and were able to hand us a proud history. Our love for each other our tolerance of the little imperfections in each of us is what our country needs in this time of hopelessness and apathy. Happy Easter.

Resources used:

http://www.ethiomedia.com/courier/awassa_tplf_drama.html

http://www.ethioinfo.org/2012/02/shiferaw-shigute-implicates-pms-wife-in.html

http://www.sidamanational-liberation.org/documents/06meles.pdf

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41603.htm

This article is a wakeup call. A wakeup call particularly to those who are utterly deficient of deep and critical thinking. For example have we looked into questions such as the followings before jumping into misleading conclusions and interpretations of the deceptions deliberately disseminated by Gen. Kemal Gemechu lead OLF here after called Faction-A . The faction being lead by Dawoud Ibssa here after will be called Faction-B. Here are the questions supposedly to be asked and responded to.

a Which faction of OLF truly represents the Oromo people, if one believes they are representing the Oromo people? Have we ever said, hold it, which one is the true representative of Oromo people to deal with, in the first place?

b. There are a number of prominent Oromo political organizations inside Ethiopia. Even OPDO should be considered in the scheme of the bigger picture. These political organizations who are inside Ethiopia have spread and embedded their organizational structure inside the Oromo people down to the village level. Here, the question is have we done the comparison between those Oromo political organizations with such social connections, with that of the Faction-A, which is, absolutely with no such social connections, before blindly taking side and mislead the struggle and above all the Ethiopian society.

c. The other critical question that should have been asked was, is there a real difference between Faction-A and Faction-B, before siding with Faction-A? Have we even contemplated to compare the two and find out whether there is real identifiable difference or not? What is the guarantee that they will not finally join and form one body? This organization called OLF is born and cultivated with lies and fabrications. How would one trust any faction of this organization with such characteristics, may I ask?
The other critical question that should have been asked was, is there a real difference between Faction-A and Faction-B, before siding with Faction-A? Have we even contemplated to compare the two and find out whether there is real identifiable difference or not? What is the guarantee that they will not finally join and form one body? This organization called OLF is born and cultivated with lies and fabrications. How would one trust any faction of this organization with such characteristics, may I ask?

d. The rhetoric coinage of words by Faction-A are, repeatedly used ones at that, “united Ethiopia,” and “one Ethiopia.” Have you looked into it and tried to identify its implications? Unity when referring to a country and its society automatically assumes one flag, one physical and political map and one national language. For common language will facilitate the promotion of national unity. If Faction-A sincerely meant what it said, then, these factors are very important to be considered and be implemented. Walking the talk.
The rhetoric coinage of words by Faction-A are, repeatedly used ones at that, “united Ethiopia,” and “one Ethiopia.” Have you looked into it and tried to identify its implications? Unity when referring to a country and its society automatically assumes one flag, one physical and political map and one national language. For common language will facilitate the promotion of national unity. If Faction-A sincerely meant what it said, then, these factors are very important to be considered and be implemented. Walking the talk.
These and other potentially determining questions should have been asked and answered unambiguously before emotionally jumping and become elated without, in my opinion, having a clue where Faction-A is calculatingly maneuvering to take the so called Alliance and the Ethiopian society, particularly those in Diaspora.

This analysis is based on a number of articles and released free presses of Faction-A. I have also watched and listened to the videos or you tubes of speeches made in public meetings and interviews given particularly by the leadership of Faction-A, very carefully

by taking notes. I have also read very carefully the political program of Faction-A. It is really amazing to discover how this group of OLF was and still are fooling the Ethiopian community. Particularly those intellectuals in the Diaspora. In turn the Diaspora groups are the ones who are misleading those who are emotionally and organically attached themselves to the misery of Ethiopian society. With this type of sincere attachment, it appears, this society will accept anything for the sake of Ethiopian society without questioning its implications and its deceptions.

Now I will start discussing the five topics that I have lined up.

1. What factors forced Faction-A to stop and think about their current political dilemma?

1.1 Not ESAT.

In my opinion, the hosts of this social media that interviewed Faction-A leaders were not completely on the side of the unity of Ethiopian people. Their questions were not forceful, aggressive and developmental. They were not thoroughly prepared by reading articles, press releases of Faction-A with the main objective, first by coming out of the box they locked themselves in, to provide the facts about OLF to the Ethiopian people in general and to the Oromo people in particular. Sincere and organic concern with the unity of Ethiopian people, on the part of these ESAT hosts, would have brought up hidden motives and deceptions to the surface and exposed it to the Ethiopian people in general and the Oromo people in particular. Instead, they were providing them a forum to further deceive the Ethiopian society. Their nature of questioning was in fact reviving a dying liberation front. I can give a number of concrete examples beginning from the interview of Dr. Dimma Negeo as to how the interviews were not penetrating, well calculated and at the same time very instructional to those who are listening.

Here are three concrete examples to show how some of these ESAT hosts are not seriously concerned about the unity of Ethiopian people. In fact they re sabotaging it. During the telephone interview of Gen. Hailu Gonfa they improvised the interview: a) by projecting the carved out map of OLF and the invented OLF flag being stuck on the map, b) by displaying armed fighters of OLF, to show the force of OLF, and c) displayed about four individuals raising the flag of OLF on a hill top exactly duplicating the Iwo Jima war memorial erected in Arlington adjacent to Arlington Cemetery. Iwo Jima memorial represents a very hard fought victory of 1945 over Japan by the United States marine corps. Does ESAT understand the meaning of displaying of such symbol? Is ESAT prophesying a victory by OLF over the people of Ethiopia, at the expense of the unity of Ethiopian people? This farfetched and laymanish comparison. It is like a comparison made by another uninformed Ethiopian artist. This Ethiopian artist compared the treatment of Ethiopian people with that of the horrible and humanly in comprehendible treatment of African slaves during the journey by being forced to enter the United States of America, and after they entered America. He is simply a political salesman slowly exposing his true characteristics. He has the potential to say and do anything at the expense of the unity of Ethiopian people. Birds of the same feather flocked together.

These are the reasons for saying these ESAT hosts are not concerned about the unity of Ethiopian people. And these are the reasons for saying they are in fact sabotaging the unity of Ethiopian people. Unless they are tunnel versioned they should be able to comprehend the interpretations and the implications of what they are talking and doing. By the substance of their primary questions and then by the follow up questions, one can observe that they have not even thought about it. In my opinion at any time and
whenever any issue are discussed or brought up with OLF, whether it is with Faction-A or with Faction-B, it automatically assumes the ultimate objective to be the unity of Ethiopian people. Therefore, it automatically controls the drift and the development of the discussions or the question and the answer processes. There cannot be any other reason. Contacts and discussions based on this principle can be initiated and perused with the two factions until the issue is completely resolved. But there cannot be any negotiations of any form on the principle of the unity of Ethiopian people.

No one in good conscious, can talk or discuss about the economy, education, health, human rights and the rule of law with OLF factions. Because, since their struggle is, as repeatedly stated to be self-determination up to and including independence of Oromo people, it is none of its business and it doesn’t concern it. It should not, never, be allowed to use these Ethiopian people’s issue to be used as a Trojan horse to disarm meek Ethiopians. The behavior and the act vividly demonstrated during the interview process shows the political prostitution of ESAT. Therefore, since it is sabotaging the unity of Ethiopian people it should be denied any type of funding. It is a crime against the people of Ethiopia to fund it with this type of clear political prostitution.

Please read the interview of Dr. Nuro Dedeffo by “The Ethiopian” news paper. One would clearly see how this journalist slowly and with logical thought processes was developing a complete picture of what was and is going on in the minds of these Faction-A leaders. I will use this interview at the later stage of this article.

1.2 It is not Ginbot 7

I firmly argue that a multinational political organizations aught not in any way cultivate nationalities oriented political organizations particularly liberation fronts. If not openly, the concealed objective is to discourage the formation of nationalities oriented political organizations because the ultimate objective is to maintain and foster a united and undivided Ethiopia. I think, at least this kind of thought process is subliminal. For an extremely poor country such as Ethiopia, in the midst of abundant natural resources to top into, the unity of its people is a must to guaranteed stability. In a country where over eighty nationalities exist, stability is a function of economic development hence the eradication of POVERY.

Here, it does not mean to disparage or do anything negative or to campaign against the existing nationalities political organizations particularly inside Ethiopia. In my opinion these nationalities political organizations will wither out through time, that is, when the Ethiopian people become the supreme owner of the administrative process of the country. The result of May 15, 2005 as well as the result of 2010 elections illuminated this process of withering out of the nationalities political organizations. Particularly in the 2005 election, the nationalities political organizations were no where near even to be considered to form a coalition government. Because, the overwhelming majority of those who came out to vote, voted for the multinational political organizations. They refused to fall into the trap of the divisive division of the country by TPLF along ethnic and language boundaries. This is the historic phenomenon that the liberation fronts, particularly OLF could not comprehend at all. I am wondering, whether, even the intellectuals in Diaspora comprehended this historic revelation.

Ginbot 7 tried its level best to reconcile the factions of OLF. Ginbot 7, this fake political organization, did not realize that it is cultivating a liberation front determined to dismantle Ethiopia. Not only that it became an instrument to revive a dying liberation front. Ginbot 7 is a dangerously opportunistic political prostitutes political organization that aught to be dismantled.

Did you observe the drama of the Virginia public meeting of February 19, 2012 held by Ginbot 7 and Faction-A? One of the telling drama was the welcoming speech made by Oromigna which was translated into amarigna, against the reality. It was funny. Was it necessary to do such laughable thing? All those attending the meeting perfectly speak, write, and understand amarigna, including those Oromos who would be perhaps about 10% of the attendee. Commonsense, which is the major deficient factor in the OLF leadership, would dictate to use the amaric language. For one thing it would have been efficient and effective in the sense that it would have shown how sincere and practical they would be when talking about “one Ethiopia” and “united Ethiopia.” For another it would have shown their confidence in themselves and truthfulness in what they claim they are pursuing. In addition, as far as I am concerned it is hypocritical to write in Oromigna and English on the advertisement poster. Please compare it with the advertisement poster of Alliance for Freedom and Democracy, of October 8, 2006.

The other drama was the display of the logos on the advertisement posters. Faction-A has a different logo than the one displayed as a logo which was the flag of OLF. The OLF flag should not have been used as a logo. If the OLF flag were to be used as a logo then the Ethiopian flag should have been displayed at a parallel position. It is simply a rational thing to do. The logo that was displayed by Ginbot 7 cannot represent the flag of Ethiopia. The logo displayed by Ginbot 7 could be the logo of Senegal or any other African states that use the three colors of Ethiopian flag, that is, the use of the three colors with different combinations and positions. In my opinion the dramas I mentioned above is not only an insult to the intelligence who were attending the meeting and reading the posters through the internet, it also shows the weakness and the corrupt political characteristics of Ginbot 7 that traces back to Ethiopia. These dramas should not be viewed as something trivial. It clearly shows how the most fundamental matters such as the protection of the unity of Ethiopian people, at any cost, were not taken to heart. Anything and everything that is done with Faction-A, it aught to be noted , ultimately revolves around the unity of Ethiopian people.

1.3 It is the persistent, strong and harsh criticism of OLF by seriously concerned individuals.

There were and still are individuals who have been anti OLF position. To name one of them is Getachew Reda. These individuals persistently exposed the destructive and divisiveness of OLF to the unity of Ethiopian people. Why? Because they were and still are, which I am going to prove below, for independence of Oromiya. It is critically important to note that the independence of Oromia cannot be seen separately without the destruction of Ethiopia. I sincerely hope that this will sink in well.

In my opinion, the last straw was my article, “OLF’s Inconsistencies, Lies and Fabrications of History.” This article did expose the true nature of OLF in a very concrete manner. Particularly the coming out of Faction-A and publicly “softening up” its position, even though it was deceptive, in different media outlets was after this article.

1.4 It is the recognition on the part of Faction-A, the none existence of organic political linkage with the Oromo people inside Ethiopia therefore doomed to fail irreversibly therefore they must do something about it.

Now it is trying its level best to hook up with Ginbot 7 to resuscitate its political life and meticulously design its ultimate objective to be carried out with the help of Ginbot 7 and its political allies. It was unable strengthen itself by bringing together the Oromo political organizations therefore it has to throw its lot with Ginbot 7, perhaps a position that would backfire in the future. Particularly for Faction-A it is a question of survival. It has to have a forum to tell its existence riding on the back of the donkeys.

1.5 The most critical one is, particularly Faction-A clearly realized that the people of Orom was not and still are not behind its independence theory. How dare one tell the builders of Ethiopia you are not Ethiopian? This is what always baffling me. Here are concrete historical experiences that show that the Oromo people were not following, hence not behind OLF.

Experience number one is that had OLF been sure that the Oromo people was behind it, in 1991, when there was no government in Ethiopia, it would have declared its independence by over riding the control of TPLF. It had its flag. It had its carved out map. There are over thirty million Oromos, a power house. So what held back OLF from declaring its independence? The simple fact is that it did not have the full confidence of the Oromo people that it will follow it and back it up. The Oromo mass was not and still not behind OLF then, and now behind Faction-A.

Experience number one is that had OLF been sure that the Oromo people was behind it, in 1991, when there was no government in Ethiopia, it would have declared its independence by over riding the control of TPLF. It had its flag. It had its carved out map. There are over thirty million Oromos, a power house. So what held back OLF from declaring its independence? The simple fact is that it did not have the full confidence of the Oromo people that it will follow it and back it up. The Oromo mass was not and still not behind OLF then, and now behind Faction-A.

Experience number two is what took place when OLF was part of the transitional government. They did not have the confidence in themselves to convert the opportunity they had into a potential political threat and be taken seriously by TPLF. They were not in a position to challenge TPLF because they know that the Oromo mass would not back them up. I don’t think OLF trusted the Oromo people even to hide it. Otherwise the whole leadership would not have evacuated and migrated to foreign countries. The positions of Faction-A in relation to the Oromo people aught to be the lenses through which we should look into it very critically. In my opinion it is a floating front. It is simply in the air with no roots. Not roots mean no attachment and hence no nourishment.
is what took place when OLF was part of the transitional government. They did not have the confidence in themselves to convert the opportunity they had into a potential political threat and be taken seriously by TPLF. They were not in a position to challenge TPLF because they know that the Oromo mass would not back them up. I don’t think OLF trusted the Oromo people even to hide it. Otherwise the whole leadership would not have evacuated and migrated to foreign countries. The positions of Faction-A in relation to the Oromo people aught to be the lenses through which we should look into it very critically. In my opinion it is a floating front. It is simply in the air with no roots. Not roots mean no attachment and hence no nourishment.

TO BE CONTINUED

Mankelklot Haile Selassie (PhD)
April 5, 2012

By Kahsay Berhe and Tesfay Atsbeha

Part two - March 2012

Why are we writing about Meles? Meles has absolute power as all his predecessors. He can decide the fate of more than 80 Million Ethiopians and probably the coming generations. As every major aspect of life of all Ethiopians is controlled by Meles, there is no possibility for Ethiopians to take their own destiny into their own hands without removing Meles. Since Meles, more than anybody else, has been committing so many crimes with impunity, it is Imperative to deal with the worst enemy of the people before everything else and hence expose his crimes.

When absolute rulers go down, they go down absolutely along with their followers as we saw these in the case of colonel Mengistu as well as Hitler, Mussolini and Pol Pot. Therefore the EPRDF will vanish as a political entity with the overthrow of Meles, while EPRDF members who have not committed crimes can be part of the solution by siding with their people.

It is of course a shame for millions of Ethiopians and a manifestation of the worst form of backwardness to be controlled by a single person and almost a miracle for a nation to be controlled and devastated by an anti-Ethiopian Person. Ignorance, the lack of an institutionalized democratic culture, the absence of economic independence due to poverty aggravated by the fact the citizens are deprived of the security of private ownership with the State having a monopoly on almost everything including land; and the fact that the state has become the biggest employer are the favourable conditions which are helping Meles to stay in power. Meles will maintain these favourable conditions for his tyranny as long as he is in power. Therefore there is no means of changing the status quo and ensuring the dignity of Ethiopians without getting rid of the tyrant.

Coming back to the birth day of the TPLF, let us see the things which are propagated and mystified continuously. It has become almost a legend that the TPLF started the armed struggle with 11 fighters on 18 February 1975 (11 Yekatit 1967 E.C.). Yes, there was also an Amhara fighter called Mikael (Abtew) Takele in the group, as mentioned in Fetehe[i]. Mikael (Abtew) did not join the TPLF in order to struggle for the secession of Tigray from Ethiopia and he, as many other members of the TPLF did not know that some elements were abusing the revolutionary fervour of the young people for their hidden agenda.

Mikael was a good hunter and friendly. He used to hunt and gather wild honey for the group. His Amhara origin caused no problem. Most members did not see secession as a solution to the Tigrayan question. Kahsay remembers how Mikael provoked by someone was angrily asking: “are you going to cut off the country – ageritwan litqortu new?” It is true that TPLF leaders and their cadres exclude those who reject separatism and stand for justice in Ethiopia from the list of the founders. Mikael is often excluded by some individuals from the list, but Kahsay is also excluded particularly by Seyoum.

Apart from the 11[ii], another group of about nine (9)[iii] men including Meles[iv]) also went to Eritrea for training by the EPLF (shaebia) in January of the same year. A third group of ten (10) [v]young peasants from the Shire region, mainly relatives and acquaintances of Sehul Ayele who were gathered and recruited at a short notice by Fitewi (Berhane) Ayele, a younger brother of Sehul Ayele were dispatched to the EPLF training centres. The young peasants were sent to Eritrea because the EPLF insisted on the inclusion of as many illiterate farmers as possible as a precautionary measure to avoid the dominance of educated critical elements. Therefore the 2^nd and the 3^rd groups completed their training at the same time and returned together to Tigray. If all groups are added up together, the number climbs up to around 30 individuals. Those who remained in the towns to accomplish organizational tasks and risked their lives more than those who went to the field should also be recognized as founders. If those who worked in the towns are added up, the number must have been more than 30. Taking the groups mentioned above into consideration, those people, who agreed to start the struggle should be considered as founders of the organisation. Mentioning the founders is for us simply stating the facts as they were, without attaching any special importance.

The annihilation of the TLF

In November 1975, while a few Central committee (CC) members of the TPLF were talking with members of the Tigrayan Liberation Front (TLF) to unite the TPLF and TLF, Meles was passionately agitating and warning other TPLF members of the danger of unity, that the TLF would be dangerous for the lives of the TPLF members. Meles was only a few months away from being appointed to be a deputy member of the CC. Both Fronts “agreed” to unite; they redistributed their weapons after mixing them up and the leadership was to be shared.

The inclusion of the TLF in the leadership meant the postponement of the promotion of Meles to the leadership. However, the whole theatre of unity talks was a deception by the CC of the TPLF to bring the TLF members under control when they fall asleep. Gebru Asrat mentioned in Fetehe No. 175 that some of the remaining TLF members continued their struggle with the TPLF; and we would add that they had no other realistic choices after their leadership was decimated. In a manual for political education to its members, the CC of the TPLF portrays the leadership of the TLF as a narrow nationalist, undemocratic and murderous group, but these descriptions also apply to the leadership of the TPLF as well. Meles and his group wrote the manifesto for the secession of Tigray three months after they destroyed the TLF. It is by taking his partially influential role in 1975, before he became a deputy member of the CC that we consider Meles to have been in power for more than 36 years. He formally became a deputy member of the CC of the TPLF in 1976, but he has been committing crimes since the autumn of 1975.

From secession to manipulation

According to Gebru (ibid.) the aim of the struggle for the independence of Tigray as declared in the manifesto was replaced by the concept of self-determination six months later, after the fighters discussed about it .Ghidey Zeratsion said (on 7 August 2011, in Ras Alula Pal talk Room) that the change of the manifesto took place after ten months and added that there was previously a consensus on the manifesto of secession within those who knew about it. The manifesto was written in February 1976 and changed in November of the same year only within the CC of the TPLF. We don’t know, whether Gebru who was not in the CC at that time participated in the internal discussion. The authors of the manifesto did not have absolute control on the rank-and-file-members of the TPLF and therefore no confidence to tell the latter (including some from the eleven like Asfaha, Kahsay and even Aregawi who was in the leadership etc..) about the aim of secession. As the authors of the manifesto did not want to tell other members of the organisation about their aim of secession, they did not speak about any change of the aim.

This change was probably sent to the EPLF, but we know it was not distributed amongst the members of the TPLF. On the one side, the change in the manifesto was a reaction to the criticism of the EPLF and EPRP. Aregawi Berhe has also written that he opposed secession. On the other side, the CC of the TPLF could have without mentioning the manifesto, indirectly come to the conclusion that there was no support for secession amongst the rank-and-file-members and the people. The aim of the TPLF was declared to be the self-determination of the people of Tigray in the first congress of the TPLF in 1979 without any mention that it was secession before. It was only in the beginning of 1985, at a time when the CC of the TPLF felt strong enough to take over power in the whole of Ethiopia that the existence of the manifesto of secession was disclosed openly. The disclosure was made in the first issue of the TPLF magazine “Yetigil Tiri (a call for struggle) as a half-hearted self-criticism of, as the CC put it: “the narrow nationalist tendency” of the TPLF in the beginning.

The formulation: “the right to self-determination, including and up to secession” is generally, and as we know it particularly in the TPLF ambivalent and very dangerous. This has been the worst phrase in Ethiopia since the mid 70s up to now. Such an aim shows the insincerity of its Authors on two counts. In the first place, the authors insincerely try to look like a neutral body which would see to it that the right of the people to reach a decision is respected. Theoretically, the self-determination of the people in a referendum is a compromise solution when one force struggles for secession while another tries to maintain unity. It is historically a phrase for independence from colonialism and secession is inherent in self-determination. The dominant elements of the CC of the TPLF did not want to take a clear position. This position as we see it practically means that they wanted unity if they get power all over Ethiopia and the secession of Tigray if they don’t monopolize power in Ethiopia. Secondly, the CC of the TPLF has never been democratic when it comes to elections as well as democratic and human rights. The assertion that they would accept the decision of the people while they are oppressing and terrorizing the people is simply a white lie. The right to self-determination including and up to secession as used by the TPLF is a system of manipulation and nothing else, because the aim is intentionally unclear so that it can be interpreted one way or the other depending on the wishes of Meles. Any decision can be imposed on the people with the help of repression and declared to have the support of 99.6% of people by the dishonest tyrant.

Irrespective of whatever the nature of the TLF was, there is pattern of behaviour of the leadership of the TPLF and particularly that of Meles which we find in connection with the annihilation of the TLF 37 years ago. According to this pattern of behaviour the perpetrator deceives, takes cruel measures and accuses the victim of crimes which the perpetrator himself commits. This history has similarities with measures taken by Meles against the CUD in 2005. The manipulation in connection with self-determination is also part of the culture of deceit which is being used to erode unity as well as maintain the repressive regime with the help of the system of divide and rule.

[i] : The issue was raised under the title of “Amara Che Guevara..”  by Temesgen Desalegn in Fetehe number 175

[ii]: Sehul (Gessesse) Ayele (fallen in combat), Agazi (Zeru) Gessesse (fallen in combat), Seyoum (Ambaye) Mesfin (in power), Asfaha (Mulugeta) Hagos (exiled and dead), Ghidey (Fantahun) Zeratsion (expelled and in exile), Berihu (Aregawi) Berhe (expelled and in exile), Qelebet (Neguse) Taye (fallen in combat), Tsehaye (Arafayne) Kahsay (fallen in combat), Abitew (Michael) Takele (left the Front and dead), Misgina (Kahsay) Berhe (expelled and in exile) and Meley (no info available);Asgede Gebreselassie who had already contact with Sehul Ayele joined the group (expelled).

[iii]: Seye (Sahle) Abraha (expelled), Shewit (Atsbeha) Dagnew (murdered by those in power), Meles (Legesse) Zenawi (exercising absolute power), Awlaalom (Tikue) Woldu (expelled), Walta (Yohannes) Gebre Medhin (fallen in combat), Hailu (Alemseged) Mengesha (expelled), Oqubazghi (Rezene), Beyene (murdered by those in power), Teklemariam (Awote) Tesfay (murdered by those in power) and Abay (Amha) Tsehaye (in power)

[iv] : Meles fled from Asmera, but his flight was kept secret by his friends who held power simply because they are amongst the first to start the struggle.

[v] Fitewi (Berhane) Ayele (fallen in combat), Alemayoh (Dirar) Ayele, Mekete (Ayele), Yoseph (Huluf), Tadele, Bahre, Yibrah, Aregay, Tewolde (Meftuh), Gebre Hiwot (Dunkul) and Aradom.

There are quite a few people, not necessarily white, who have concluded that we Africans, if only we did not have minerals and oil, rich and fertile lands up for grabbing, (we) would be quite useless and irrelevant in the march of History. France’s embattled president even said we are just at the door of civilization and the past century and not yet in though he did not say whether it is because we did not knock, or were too lazy to bother or were kept out.

French president Sarkozy is in waters deeper than the crocodile infested Nile. His win in the next French election is appearing like the dream of riches of an impoverished African. Troubled and faced with the possibility of a resounding defeat, he has desperately come up with what he considers a panacea: attack the Africans, the black and Arab hordes with the Asians thrown in. The Immigrants.  Sarkozy hopes he has found the right bogeyman to frighten the French not to vote Socialist. And we all know the French voter is a strange animal who talks left and often votes conservative.  Sarkozy has also jumped on the God sent issue of a lone gun man killing French soldiers (North Africans and Caribbean by origin) and innocent Jewish children going to school. He went to Toulouse and almost shed tears as he called the killing of children a national tragedy. The same day Algeria observed the 50^th year of its liberation from brutal French colonialism, a day unobserved this way or that by France. Is this the same Sarkozy who ordered the carpet bombing of Libya causing the deaths of thousands? Is this the same man who sent soldiers to meddle in Ivory Coast? The same day Sarkozy was crying about national tragedy (4 people killed of whom three were children) how many died in Gaza without a word of sympathy from him? And Syria? Actually, all this is neither here nor there. Killers of children need to be condemned in all places.

The main point is that we Africans have once again become useful. They need us. Not only for our oil, gold,  coltan, fertile land, uranium and diamonds but also to act as scarecrows during elections.  There are too many immigrants Sarkozy cries out with indignation stealing the main slogan of the far right National Front thus pushing people ask who really is the leader of the far right—Marie Le Pen  or Sarkozy? The rightists and frightened elders who are complaining that France is no longer authentic France (whatever that means), but a sort of Untied Nations of a country, are pleased. Too many “Noirs et Arabs” (blacks and Arabs) everywhere anyway, we are not safe, all meat sold is actually Halal (this is also a campaign issue believe it or not), send the immigrants packing (Norway is trying to that with Ethiopians), immigration, immigrants, they are drowning us. Once again we Africans and Arabs and immigrants have become potent. We frighten. We are not Talibans but we frighten. We are not just miserable souls being rounded up or dying at Lampadusa but living and aggressive immigrants destabilizing Europe. We clean their toilets and streets but somehow we are stealing critical jobs from them. Wow! We are not pathetic warlords being the only ones to be tried and convicted by the racist  ICC  but Mamadous, Getachews, Dengs and Toures strutting on the streets of Europe and making them afraid. Honor redeemed?

I have always argued that we serve Westerners of all hues by being victims. The NGOs thrive because of us (Juba is host to some 400 of them).  We starve and are of use to them. They collect money using photos of our tearful and desperate and starved children and they collect million of which we do not even se a sizeable part. Take the Kony2012 fellows who collected millions and spent only a mere 32% for the Ugandans in whose name they collected the money. War on Want and others of the 1984 Ethiopian famine are also cases in point. Liv Ullman, a Norwegian actress, visited a camp for famine victims in Ethiopia in 1984 and congratulated a camp dweller on the beauty of his hand knitted cap and the fellow (we Ethiopians are sometimes rude!) replied to her “ but I cannot eat my cap!”, Present day Livs thrive on our misery. Call them Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, etc they are out there getting publicity, making lightening visits to “war zones”, getting filmed and “arrested” in front of embassies (of course they are released promptly) to, as they say, publicize the plight of people who do not have the luxury of being detained in front of cameras and who will not see the light of day if they ever get captured or jailed. So, the charade is for them and we play along. Naive and kind souls that we are, reading the Bible while they stole our land, being filmed with tears for them to collect money and profit, we are the perennial victims. They want us out of their country but we do not demand the repatriation of thousands of French people from Cote d’Ivoire, thousands of French Foreign Legion mercenaries from Djibouti, CAR or other places. We never ask the deportation of aggressive French or American troops from the Horn of Africa, East Africa, etc. We are so welcoming, no?  That is why the ongoing hue and cry against us by Sarkozy and others who think political and economic problems that they are facing are of no importance while they rile against immigrants and wail of national tragedies are indeed fakes but we like them. They are our fakes, our own crocodiles. They have made us modern day Mandingos, needed, the heart of their malaise and crisis. Who can ask for more? It is much better than being outside the gates of civilization, irrelevant, a synonym to misery and uselessness.

We have become an election issue of primary importance and we should thank Sarkozy and all European rightists for the honor. We are now relevant, of some use and role. Immigrants in France and other countries should swagger and be visible. Like it or not we should land on them, we shall come to their shores (as they did come to ours years and years ago to enslave and colonize us). They are still in Africa in their thousands (if only China had not been so far—we would have shown them the replica to their invasion of our continent), enjoying high standard of living and not cleaning African streets and toilets.  Yet, we are tolerant. We are happy to be scarecrows and monsters for frightened old ladies and men and for those who keep the nightmare of virile Mandingos possessing their lily white maidens. The march of History is against their dream of keeping us away. They need us for our labor, for our tax money, for our wealth in our countries. They need us to frighten their citizens not vote rationally but to bow to their fears and prejudices. Aren’t we immigrants great?