A Manifesto for Change in Ethiopia
Zekarias Ezra
February 03, 2011
When Ethiopia had parliamentary elections only 8 months ago, they were completely rigged. The party of Meles Zenawi left the opposition with only 0.18 percent of the seats i.e. with only 1 seat out of 547 seats.
All peace loving nations were quietly dismayed by the result including the friendly American government. U.S. Department Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley briefing journalists on the 2010 Ethiopian Election made it clear that the ´election was constrained by the actions and inactions of the EPRDF and that …the American government expressed its concern to (Meles Zenawi). The American concern was hardly adequate to express the way the Ethiopian people felt. Of course, Ethiopians no longer expects much from the American government or the West in general. They took their lessons in 2005.
Meles Zenawi, emboldened by the past inactions of these nations, even went further and declined the European Union Election Observation Mission´s request for an entry visa, thereby preventing them to release their reports in Addis. In fact, as in Tunisia, Egypt and now Yemen, the inactions and empty words of the American government and other Europeans reaffirmed the belief that these powers are siding and will always side with an authoritarian regime because they think it represents their interests.
True, for the American government, the government in Ethiopia is a stable government in that part of the world where terrorists are known to rule. But, the absence of violence is not necessarily tantamount to stability and peace. The recent show of anger by the people of Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen demonstrates that there is no stability except when you have government freely chosen by its own people.
If he´s (Meles Zenawi) scared right now, he should be — he has much to answer for. In Ethiopia, as we speak, people are starving; their land is being given to market dominant minority MNC under the guise of free market, political repression continues unabated. While Meles has boasted about healthy economic growth figures, the day to day living conditions of the people clearly show that the much touted economic reforms of the last 10 years have done little more than make the rich even richer while poverty, unemployment and prices rise unchecked.
The golden opportunity to work for our common good was lost in 2005 when 193 of our brothers and sisters were gunned down in broad day light by their own brothers and sisters at the order of Meles Zenawi. The May 2010 rigged election has put in the final nail in the coffin of democracy in Ethiopia. It is therefore time for a change. The only option is a new beginning.
Yes, there is an illusion of peace in Ethiopia. Well, there was an illusion of peace in Tunsia and Egypt too until this month. So, how could one be certain all will be well in Ethiopia tomorrow or next month or next year or five years from now? You see, a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman is a peace in the truest sense of the term. As President George W Bush once rightly said, "God has planted in every human heart the desire to live in freedom. And even when that desire is crushed by tyranny for decades, it will rise again." That correctly explained what is happening in Tunisia and Egypt and will happen in other countries such as Ethiopia whether we like it or not so long as undemocratic rule continues.
Therefore, it´s high time for Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to walk in wisdom and pave the way for a smooth and peaceful transition and exit gracefully and in peace. As each day passes, it will definitely get harder to work for such a transition. How long should Ethiopians be expected to languish in misery under a self elected government? It needs to be noted there are also other forces than just the prime Minister and the ordinary citizens. I for one would very much like to think the armed and the police forces are part of the Ethiopian people. They know the suffering and the frustrations.
This demand is eminently reasonable: Meles should step down and be replaced by a transitional government, headed by religious leaders, and including representatives of all pro-democracy forces. That government could assume the day to day running of the government and could then spend six months rewriting the election laws (not the constitution), allowing political parties to freely organize and preparing for genuinely democratic elections in a year.
Protests might or might not occur in Ethiopia now. We don´t know where protests will lead if they do occur. They may fizzle, or Meles security forces — not known for their squeamishness — may succeed in stomping them out as they did in 2005 or they may succeed in ousting the government. That is why, we all should support the Prime Minister if he truly resolved to a peaceful power transition. It is best that change come gradually in this manner through a democratic process rather than all at once in the streets. In a revolutionary situation, as in the 1970s, often he, who is best organized, and most willful and bloody-minded, prevails.
In any case, it is inevitable, sooner or later, the Ethiopian people, as Tunisians and Egyptians, will break the barrier of fear, and once that is broken, there is no stopping them. Yet, I see one compelling reason why we have to regard the prospect of an Ethiopian upheaval with trepidation: Meles Zenawi has systematically neutered the opposition groups, leaving the breakup of Ethiopia as the most obvious alternative to him having successfully partioned the country purely along ethnic lines.
Still we should not underestimate the wise people of Ethiopia. The bonds that bind us as a people are ancient and much stronger than the mere language and traditions that separate us.
All peace loving nations were quietly dismayed by the result including the friendly American government. U.S. Department Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley briefing journalists on the 2010 Ethiopian Election made it clear that the ´election was constrained by the actions and inactions of the EPRDF and that …the American government expressed its concern to (Meles Zenawi). The American concern was hardly adequate to express the way the Ethiopian people felt. Of course, Ethiopians no longer expects much from the American government or the West in general. They took their lessons in 2005.
Meles Zenawi, emboldened by the past inactions of these nations, even went further and declined the European Union Election Observation Mission´s request for an entry visa, thereby preventing them to release their reports in Addis. In fact, as in Tunisia, Egypt and now Yemen, the inactions and empty words of the American government and other Europeans reaffirmed the belief that these powers are siding and will always side with an authoritarian regime because they think it represents their interests.
True, for the American government, the government in Ethiopia is a stable government in that part of the world where terrorists are known to rule. But, the absence of violence is not necessarily tantamount to stability and peace. The recent show of anger by the people of Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen demonstrates that there is no stability except when you have government freely chosen by its own people.
If he´s (Meles Zenawi) scared right now, he should be — he has much to answer for. In Ethiopia, as we speak, people are starving; their land is being given to market dominant minority MNC under the guise of free market, political repression continues unabated. While Meles has boasted about healthy economic growth figures, the day to day living conditions of the people clearly show that the much touted economic reforms of the last 10 years have done little more than make the rich even richer while poverty, unemployment and prices rise unchecked.
The golden opportunity to work for our common good was lost in 2005 when 193 of our brothers and sisters were gunned down in broad day light by their own brothers and sisters at the order of Meles Zenawi. The May 2010 rigged election has put in the final nail in the coffin of democracy in Ethiopia. It is therefore time for a change. The only option is a new beginning.
Yes, there is an illusion of peace in Ethiopia. Well, there was an illusion of peace in Tunsia and Egypt too until this month. So, how could one be certain all will be well in Ethiopia tomorrow or next month or next year or five years from now? You see, a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman is a peace in the truest sense of the term. As President George W Bush once rightly said, "God has planted in every human heart the desire to live in freedom. And even when that desire is crushed by tyranny for decades, it will rise again." That correctly explained what is happening in Tunisia and Egypt and will happen in other countries such as Ethiopia whether we like it or not so long as undemocratic rule continues.
Therefore, it´s high time for Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to walk in wisdom and pave the way for a smooth and peaceful transition and exit gracefully and in peace. As each day passes, it will definitely get harder to work for such a transition. How long should Ethiopians be expected to languish in misery under a self elected government? It needs to be noted there are also other forces than just the prime Minister and the ordinary citizens. I for one would very much like to think the armed and the police forces are part of the Ethiopian people. They know the suffering and the frustrations.
This demand is eminently reasonable: Meles should step down and be replaced by a transitional government, headed by religious leaders, and including representatives of all pro-democracy forces. That government could assume the day to day running of the government and could then spend six months rewriting the election laws (not the constitution), allowing political parties to freely organize and preparing for genuinely democratic elections in a year.
Protests might or might not occur in Ethiopia now. We don´t know where protests will lead if they do occur. They may fizzle, or Meles security forces — not known for their squeamishness — may succeed in stomping them out as they did in 2005 or they may succeed in ousting the government. That is why, we all should support the Prime Minister if he truly resolved to a peaceful power transition. It is best that change come gradually in this manner through a democratic process rather than all at once in the streets. In a revolutionary situation, as in the 1970s, often he, who is best organized, and most willful and bloody-minded, prevails.
In any case, it is inevitable, sooner or later, the Ethiopian people, as Tunisians and Egyptians, will break the barrier of fear, and once that is broken, there is no stopping them. Yet, I see one compelling reason why we have to regard the prospect of an Ethiopian upheaval with trepidation: Meles Zenawi has systematically neutered the opposition groups, leaving the breakup of Ethiopia as the most obvious alternative to him having successfully partioned the country purely along ethnic lines.
Still we should not underestimate the wise people of Ethiopia. The bonds that bind us as a people are ancient and much stronger than the mere language and traditions that separate us.
Print
Email
