(Magertu Regassa)
During the very recent past, Ethiopia had witnessed several demonstrations that were carried out by opposition political parties named Andinet and Semayawi. I would like, at this juncture, to appreciate these two opposition political parties for peacefully conducting their demonstrations. I, moreover, would like to extend special thanks and words of appreciation to the ruling EPRDF for allowing and overseeing the aforementioned opposition political parties so that they could conduct their demonstrations without disturbing the normal lives of the peace-loving people of Ethiopia.
I have developed a strong proclivity to write a piece of material on those series of demonstrations. What I wrote, which mainly aims at pinpointing the oppositions’ demands, wrong notions, frustrations, and strategies, is presented below and you are free to forward your comments.
I would like to inform you, at the outset, the fact that I am not a politician by profession. I am not affiliated to any political party either. Moreover, you must also know that my assessment of EPRDF and of all Ethiopian opposition political parties is based on the events that I have been observing since year 2001 – just because I was too young to observe the preceding decade and I always want to evaluate things based on personal observation.
I. Oppositions’ Demands
For obvious reasons, demonstrations of all types are valueless if they are not accompanied by valid and well articulated demands. In view of this fact, let’s briefly and critically examine the main demands that were presented by the opposition political parties during the demonstrations they had carried out.
1.1. Political Prisoners Must Be Released
If a government imprisons innocent and peaceful opposition politicians, it is not a government at all. This demand is, therefore, legitimate if EPRDF had imprisoned innocent and peaceful opposition politicians.
However, some opposition politicians like Andualem Arage were put behind bars simply because they were found to have been conspiring with Ginbot 7 (Shabia’s Child of Destruction) with the aim to assassinate high-ranking government officials of the ruling party, plant bombs in selected government buildings, create havoc to the peace-loving people of Ethiopia, and unconstitutionally and criminally control state power.
This was legally proven beyond reasonable doubt (substantiated by many concrete and objective evidences) and that, as for me, this is treason.
If EPRDF is imprisons innocent and peaceful opposition politicians, why are opposition politicians – such as Dr. Negasso, Professor Beyene, Ledetu Ayalew, Gebru Asrat, and others – not in jail?
Therefore, oppositions’ demand in this regard, in my opinion, is invalid and poorly thought of.
1.2. Imprisoned Journalists Must Be Released
If a government imprisons innocent and peaceful private journalists, it is not a government at all. This demand is, therefore, legitimate if EPRDF had imprisoned innocent and peaceful private journalists.
Unfortunately enough, the private media in Ethiopia (other than the Reporter, Fortune, Capital, Addis Admas, Ethio-Channel, and Sendek) is used to promoting hatred and conflict among the various nations, nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia as well as among various religions. Divulging information of national security importance and working in collaboration with various opposition political parties and thereby violating an essential ethical standard (i.e. Independence) applicable to the private media are but few of the distinguishing and hideous characteristics of the Ethiopian private press.
When opposition politicians say imprisoned journalist must be released, they are referring to Eskindir Nega. This journalist is known for applauding what the German Nazi did to the innocent Jewish people and advocating for the same action to be taken over the Tigrians whom he had openly called “Cancers to Ethiopia” (read such newspapers as Asqual and Satanaw that he had used to publish and poison the general public with what they contain). If Eskindir Nega is not put in jail, who else would then be? The Ethiopian legal system is even too generous to sentence a criminal like Eskinder Nega to only 18 years in prison.
The bottom line is that, If EPRDF is known for imprisoning innocent and peaceful private journalists, why are almost all of the individuals in the private press not incarcerated? Therefore, oppositions’ demand in this regard, in my opinion, is as invalid and poorly thought of as their demand in “1” above.
1.3. The Government Must Refrain From Intervening In Religion and Religious Affair
If a government that boasts to be secular intervenes in religion and religious affair, it is not a government at all. This demand is, therefore, legitimate if EPRDF had actually intervened in religion and religious affair.
When opposition politicians say the government must refrain from intervening in religion and religious affair, they certainly are endorsing the financially motivated and unfounded complaints and demands of few Ethiopian Muslims. It is quite imminent that few Ethiopian Muslims have been doggedly and vainly working to bring in religious mayhem to the majority Ethiopian Muslim community but for economic reasons. Such few Ethiopian Muslims are paid a handsome amount of money by Ethiopia’s external enemies (such as some Arab Countries and the lifeless government in Eritrea) and internal political adversaries of the ruling EPRDF (such as Gunbot 7, OLF, and the like) and they are entrusted with the responsibility of destroying Ethiopia’s peace and stability as well as hampering the pace of our fast-growing economy with the aim to please and meet the varied devilish objectives of those who are financially backing them.
The crux of my argument is that, had EPRDF actually intervened in religion and religious affair of the Ethiopian Muslim community, all Muslims throughout the country would have the same complaints. Why are almost all Ethiopian Muslims urging the government to take remedial action against the very few Ethiopian Muslim fanatics who have a hidden mission? The two opposition political parties had also requested the ruling EPRDF, in conjunction with this demand (demand number “3”), for unconditional release of the very few Ethiopian Muslim fanatics who were caught red-handed while being involved in acts of terrorism and thus put behind bars. This is too funny a request.
Therefore, oppositions’ demand in this regard, in my opinion, is as invalid and poorly thought of as their demands in “1” and “2” above.
1.4. The Government Must Repeal Anti-Terrorism Law
Opposition politicians precisely know the fact that the geo-political environment where Ethiopia is situated at makes the country susceptible to terrorism and terrorist tendencies. Ethiopia is bordered by countries that are known to be the breeding grounds of terrorism and terrorists.
All Ethiopians know that the country had been repeatedly attacked by terrorists. The series of bomb blasts at Tigray Hotel in Addis Ababa, NOC Petrol Stations in Gerje and Megenagna, public transportation throughout the country, and the massacre (by Muslim extremists) of innocent civilians in Jimma city, the recent murder of Sheik in Dessie town are but few of the terrorist attacks that were carried out by terrorists in Ethiopia.
Therefore, if Andinet and Semayawi parties don’t have any hidden agenda, they would never urge the government to nullify the prevailing anti-terrorism law. Therefore, oppositions’ demand in this regard, in my opinion, is as invalid and poorly thought of as their demands in “1”, “2”, and “3” above.
1.5. The Government Must Refrain From Weakening The Private Press
Ethiopia perhaps is the only country in the world where the private press weakens and kills itself. As far as I know, EPRDF had created conducive atmosphere where the private press could freely operate adhering to universally recognized ethical standards applicable to journalism.
Every Ethiopian knows that there were too many news papers and magazines that were published and distributed by the private press till the 2005 election. Unfortunately, almost all such printed media lack two essential ethical standards: reliability and impartiality. As it was stated in”2” above, the primary role of the print media had been disseminating skewed information and destabilizing propaganda and defaming officials of the ruling party and the government. By doing so, they had played a damaging role by way of poisoning the general public with fabricated information. Although such printed media are still operating in Ethiopia, many of them have become defunct (“committed suicide” might be the proper adjective). So what would EPRDF do if the private press willingly commits suicide?
Therefore, oppositions’ demand in this regard, in my opinion, is as invalid and poorly thought of as their demands in “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” above.
1.6.The Government Must Bring To Justice/Court Corrupt Government Officials
This is the only legitimate and appropriate demand of Andinet and Semayawi parties. It is quite evident that corruption among few government officials in Ethiopia had almost become rife.
During Obbo Malaas Zenawii’’s leadership, EPRDF was undertaking (as I learnt from media) rigorous study on the matter and the government had (in the very recent past) commenced bringing to justice those government officials who are found to have been involved in corruption and other malpractices.
Although oppositions’ demand in this regard is valid, the ruling party had already started taking a legal action against corrupt government officials long before the opposition politicians presented their demand. Considering this, I can safely say that the oppositions demand in this regard is half-valid.
II. Oppositions’ Wrong Notions
Almost all Ethiopian opposition political parties, which are operating within and outside Ethiopia, are organized along the same line. All of them have wrong notions about EPRDF for the following reasons:
2.1. They Feel EPRDF is TPLF
Almost all Ethiopian opposition political parties erroneously believe that EPRDF means TPLF and, therefore, they claim that EPRDF is dominated by politicians from Tigray. Embarrassingly enough, as for some of them, the entire Ethiopia is led by politicians from Tigray. All of them, however, feel that all government officials other than the Tigrians are marionette. Almost all Ethiopian opposition political parties suspicion and, sometimes bordering hatred, towards the Tigrian people.
This is the main reason why we don’t see many individuals from Tigray in the opposition camps. The reality that Ethiopian opposition political parties don’t know or don’t want to know is that EPRDF is composed of politicians from the various Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples of Ethiopia and that the nation is being led by the same politicians.
2.2. They Think Post-Malaas EPRDF is Zilch
Many Ethiopian opposition political parties had danced at the moment they heard news about the untimely death of Obbo Malaas Zenawii. They had wrongly anticipated that post-Malaas EPRDF would be vacuum, weak and unable to lead a country and that they would freely obtain short-cut access to state power. They had failed to recognize the fact that, though Meles was a key figure of the party, there are indeed many politicians within EPRDF who are equally competent and ready to take over any vacant posts.
III. Oppositions’ Frustrations
All the demonstrations that Andienet and Semayawe parties had administered in the recent past in particular and the incessant defamation and groundless accusations that all Ethiopian opposition political parties are accustomed to directing towards EPRDF at large are indisputable manifestations of the many-sided frustrations that the opposition block had developed and has been suffering from for the past 10 to 15 years now. The oppositions’ frustrations emanate from EPRDF’s comprehensive achievements and success stories, among other things, in the following areas:
3.1. It has almost become a public secret that Ethiopia is one of the ten fast-growing economies in the world. This fact is reported by international agencies (not by the Ethiopian government). This is a HEADACHE to the opposition block.
3.2. The ruling EPRDF is working round the clock to radically change the living standards of the Ethiopian people. Ethiopia’s economy will soon be led by industry as the government had already paved the way that is necessary and sufficient for considerably expanding the existing manufacturing companies and establishing new ones. The manufacturing companies will play a significant role in import substitution, export promotion, job creation, and the like. This is a stomach-ache to the opposition block.
3.3. To facilitate the smooth movement and flow of people and property, the government is vigorously working on the development of such infrastructures as railways and roads. City, Inter-State, and Cross-Country railway transportations will soon become realities in Ethiopia. Various Cross-Country highways like the one connecting Ethiopia to Sudan will soon become operational. Moreover, all-weather roads that connect each Ethiopian village to the main road are either constructed or they are under construction. This is a BACKACHE to the opposition block.
3.4. So as to be able furnish the expanding manufacturing sector, various businesses, urban and rural households with uninterrupted electricity and export surplus electric power to neighboring countries, the government is tirelessly working on accelerating the constructions of Mega Hydro Power Projects such as the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and Gilgel Gibe-III. Moreover, several wind farm and geo-thermal projects that will soon generate electricity are currently underway at several places in Ethiopia. This is A DIABETIC to the opposition block.
3.5. Various preliminary petroleum explorations that have been underway in the country had revealed that Ethiopia has huge quantity of fuel/oil and, as a result, the government is working hard so as to actually utilize the existing fuel/oil. I am, therefore, certain that fuel/oil will soon be available in domestic markets for significantly reduced prices. Moreover, our country will soon generate large sum of foreign currency from fuel/oil export and that the Ethiopian people and government will be emancipated from foreign debts and aids/assistance. This is MALARIA to the opposition block.
3.6. So as to be able solve the housing problems of its citizens, the government has been devotedly working (for the past 10 years now) on the construction of low-cost houses in all the regional states and administration cities of Ethiopia. Many of such houses had successfully been transferred to many middle- and low-income citizens. The government had very recently embarked upon a more sophisticated housing development plan (10/90, 20/80, 40/60, and so on) that makes majority of the middle and low-income citizens house owners in less than two years time. Many Ethiopian citizens living in Ethiopia have already been registered so that they can benefit from this new housing development plan. Moreover, many Ethiopian citizens who live outside Ethiopia (in USA, Europe, and African countries) and are known for their blind hatred, defamation, and groundless accusations of the ruling party, have already been registered (in the Ethiopian Embassies found in the countries they live) so that they can take advantage of this new housing development plan of the government which they blindly oppose and criticize. This is BLOOD PRESSURE to the opposition block.
3.7. EPRDF’s concerted effort has hitherto been oriented towards the development of a modern political environment where all the essential ingredients of a civilized and democratic nation become prevalent. The ruling EPRDF has, therefore, performed a commendable job in introducing and keeping intact democracy, freedom of speech and expression, multi-party system, independent legal system, good governance, and the like which all are gradually flourishing. In contrast, all Ethiopian opposition political parties are known for discrediting and abusing EPRDF’s achievements in this regard. Majority of us (the ordinary Ethiopians) perfectly know that it is rather the opposition block that is actually hindering the development of a full-fledged democratic system in Ethiopia. This is LUNG CANCER to the opposition block.
3.8. There are, no doubt, few corrupt government officials. The government had recently commenced, as previously mentioned, bringing to justice those government officials who are found to have been involved in corruption and other malpractices. The ruling EPRDF had promised its citizens that the fight against corruption shall be intensified and the country will soon become corruption-free. As all Ethiopian opposition political parties have currently nothing to say with regard to corruption, they are urging the government to put all government officials behind bars on charges of corruption. Do you know what they want? A safe and easy access to state power. This is BRAIN TUMOR and EPRDF PHOBIA to the opposition block.
The bottom line is that:
Every EPRDF’s achievement and success story enables the ruling party widen its mass base which, in turn, assists it win national elections by wide margins. In contrast, behind every EPRDF’s achievement and success story, there is a certain ailment in the opposition block which opposition leaders and members reflect it by way of defaming the ruling party and government officials, groundlessly accusing EPRDF, getting involved in illegal and criminal acts, working in collaboration with Ethiopia’s sworn external enemies, and the like.
IV. Oppositions’ Strategies
Owing the unprecedented and wide-ranging achievements that EPRDF has been registering specially for the past 10 to 15 years now, it had managed to secure a strong and loyal mass base. Given this fact, almost all Ethiopian opposition political parties are rest assured that they cannot win national elections and cannot hold state power, at least in the short-run. Therefore, to hurriedly quench their thirst for state power, they are frequently seen being desperately resorting to the following fruitless strategies that are spitting images of their wrong notions and frustrations:
4.1. Giving membership rights (including in their parties) to snippets of the Derg regime and instructing them to get involved in criminal acts with the aim to bring in chaos to the nation and twist the hands of the ruling party.
4.2. Mobilizing those individuals (including their families and friends) who were dismissed from EPRDF and encouraging them to get involved in subversive acts for the same aim presented in “4.1” above..
4.3. Allying with the very few Muslim fanatics and encouraging them to get involved in subversive acts for the same aim presented in “4.1” above.
4.4. Working in collaboration with the sworn Ethiopia’s external enemies, most of which have a track record of terrorism and terrorist tendencies with the aim to destroy Ethiopia’s peace and security and hamper her various economic development activities and projects.
4.5. Defaming and baselessly accusing the ruling EPRDF (on such grounds as lack of democracy, human rights violation, absence of freedom of speech and expression, and the like) with the aim to harm its reputation in the international arena and persuade international financial agencies, donor institutions, and developed countries not to give loans and aids/assistances to Ethiopia.
4.6. Feeding Ethiopians in the Diaspora with unreliable, biased, politically motivated, and fabricated information about EPRDF and Ethiopia so that they could blindly hate and oppose EPRDF, become oppositions’ members and provide financial and other assistances to the opposition political parties which they belong to, denounce everything (both good and bad) that EPRDF might do, decline EPRDF’s call to Ethiopians in the Diaspora so that they could play their part in nation building, and the like. I personally feel that most Ethiopians in the Diaspora are innocent. Most of them are acting in a manner that is detrimental to Ethiopia and her people simply because they were bombarded with wrong information about EPRDF.
I personally feel that it is high time for the Ethiopian opposition political parties to look for better and workable strategies that would enable them legally materialize their dreams.
Note: When I say “all Ethiopian opposition political parties”, know that it doesn’t include EDP. This party (EDP) is my second best political party. I must admit that I love and respect its leaders, Obbo Musie Shemu and Obbo Ledetu Ayalew. This opposition political party, in my opinion, is the only hope of Ethiopia.
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*The author Magertu Regassa is a guest writer in this blog. She lives in Nek’Emte, Welega, Ethiopia.
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