By Frew Anteneh
Practically every concerned Ethiopian is closely watching the developments in her/his country not only, as some may tend to think and believe, during and after the election, but ever since she/he was a little school child and then for decades. The simple message here is, Ethiopians, regardless of their age, sex, ethnic or religious affiliations, urban or rural dwellers and any one who can read and write or pass information and discuss affairs only through word of mouth know their affairs, their politics and history.
The period during and after the election, no doubt had attracted many and many around from their age old slumber. Since then we have seen innumerable reports, scholarly analyses, opinions and for that matter curses all directed to one target. We read and listen to each one of them with patience, sieve the above, presented to us from friends and foes alike, and hence broadened our own understandings to help us made our resolutions based on facts and have same or common goal. We have followed and still are following our history unfolding in a very fast pace. We read and listen, the good and the bad, the truth and the lie, but not swallow all that is dumped on us. There is, however, a repetitive trend which is reverberating practically in every report once it comes out of one source. How many of such kinds of reports have we read through times? Innumerable. Here are some:
……“after the election — in which the opposition party won an unprecedented number of seats but not enough to defeat Prime Minister Meles Zenawi — violent protests erupted, leading to a government crackdown.”
August 23, 2007Source: The Washington Times
…….The opposition won an unprecedented number of parliamentary seats in the 2005 vote, but not enough to topple Meles. The opposition claimed the voting was rigged, European Union observers said it was marred by irregularities.
The Associated Press | August 20, 2007
…….Last May’s polls were the most closely contested in Ethiopian history, and resulted in the opposition winning more than 100 seats in parliament. But the opposition believed they had been cheated of victory, and took to the streets.
BBC, Last Updated: Friday, 20 January 2006, 17:28 GMT etc,etc.
When we hear the same thing again and again, whether it is true or not, it appears that we are getting the facts right. This is one example of one aspect. There are so many reports which carry distorted, twisted and sickening lies. We can say that the reporters are doing their job, we are not blaming them. The main point here is, the system in Ethiopia is feeding the international community with fabrications, miserable face saving distortions, convoluted and unheard of leis very hard to believe. Every attempt lacking the true sense of sanity and human dignity.
The Empty Talk Of Free Election
When it comes to the election, many political groups, observers and analysts of our own origin have laid the standards should the election be judged as fair and free; numerated the yardsticks, stated the manners of both contending sides and demanded the observance of each. In order to have a free and fair democratic election (versus sham, controlled, or staged elections) any election to sustain or democratize a system, (at any stage of development, be it in Africa or elsewhere) must have:
1. Free Election board.
2. Independent judicial system.
3. A defense force free/independent of politics.
4. Uncompromised democratic and human rights of citizens : the right to organize, assemble, read, write, speak oppose, support, vote in or vote out etc.
5. The right to share the wealth of the Nation in equal footage with the system including financial, material, the mass media, radio, TV, newspapers etc.
6. The provision and access to polling stations.
7. The presence of National/ International observers.
8. Free access to Local/International reporters for openness and transparency.
9. Facilitating free atmosphere/ free play ground in the land, free from fear of consequences, intimidations etc.
10. Transparent, truthful and unambiguous tallying of the popular ballots, etc.
In the May 2005 election did we have all these? When the provisions for free elections are not met, how is it possible to have free democratic election???
It will be redundant to dissect each and every one of the above vast topics but suffices to say, there was no independent election board. The Head of the Supreme Court was the head of the election board. The members of the election board were hand picked by the tyrant. The commander in chief of the army, not at the terms of “leadership” but since their times of rebellion against the former dictator, was the self appointed “prime minister” himself. As far as the respect for Democratic and Human right were concerned, citizens, young and old, candidates at every level were harassed, tortured, imprisoned and in some cases murdered. The opposition was not provided with financial or/ and material assistance while the candidates from the system who have been confusing candidacy with government posts have been provided with unlimited access practically to anything they needed from the resources of the people . In fact, in some places, the opposition where denied access to meeting halls even if financed by their own. In other areas, they were forced to close their offices and left a whole region due to intimidation and harassment. For propaganda consumption and deception of the international community, there was indeed some free and open debates in the major cities alone while over >90% of the population live in rural areas. The National/ International observers were give access to urban/accessible few areas for a number of reasons. Local observes where in legal battle with the system until the last day of the election and were not able to go to the remote polling areas. Anyone with a God given common sense will never attempt to say there was a free and fair election in Ethiopia. Or one has to think with his belly, as the saying goes in this land, “beqefetu yemiyasib”
The Election.
The facts and truth are, the people in their deep desire for democracy, have made the day their day, a memorable one. For the respect of their unalienable human rights, they have taken the system that did them wrong in surprise. In their resolve to come out of unfathomable poverty, backwardness etc. they have come out as one. To show to friends and foes alike that they are the masters of their own destiny, they have done what they can do best, outwitted the whole gang of mercenaries. To say No to tyranny, in solemnity, with deep respect of self and each other, in which they are known best, they have endured their physical discomforts the whole day. To show their pride in Ethiopiawinet, and their burning love of motherland, this beautiful Ethiopia, they have fulfilled their duties just in a day. And, at the end of the day, they voted out the unjust. To break the silence, they have ululated at least for a day. They have passed their judgment and slept a good night, but for only a night.
In any democratic exercise, the pre election debates and the casting of ballots alone are not the beginning and the end of the game. They could be counted as steps forward if carried in earnest and in good faith. What counts as most important of all is but the proper, open, transparent and accurate recording and counting of the ballots, and of course the acceptance of the popular verdict! Did we have these??? Trickle, trickle and trickle until everyone is bored and using time as a machine to deflate the momentum and with evil manipulations for months and the election “results” were reported. Who won??? What kind of victory is victory when the loser, the vanquished and the beaten claims it usurping the deeds of others?
Post Election Turmoil.
Who would expects the people to sit at home like prisoners when they are robbed of their votes in broad day lights? Regardless of the declaration of state of emergency like war times, the Ethiopians came out in mass demanding for the respect of their verdict. They have exercised their rights. Full stop. The people of Ethiopia are much ahead of the political vultures who parched their mindless bodies in palace chairs. Victims of tyranny do not need anyone to tell them when to go out to protest and when not. Successive spontaneous public dissatisfaction erupted. This is much expected and is just. The world could have laughed at us had we not done that, for that matter. Who is to blame for the turmoil and for what followed?? The chief in command of the shooters or the “interceptors” of the bullets? This same nonsense was uttered from the chief of the jackals!! In this peaceful demonstration military Hamvees provided for counter terrorism were used to mow down over a thousand innocent civilians. To sprinkle salt on the wounds of the nation, only few deaths and wounds were reported by the state owned media, as if killing only hundreds is not a crime, but an act of avowed democrats.
The Ethiopian people know what democracy is, they know to what extent their rights and duties extend. Democracy for Ethiopians is not some thing written on a slate and given down from who ever is above. Nor is it something that we borrow or copycat from those who tend to say that whatever they touch is sacred, but the rest, especially African is profane.
Who knows democracy better than those who are deprived of it? It is when one is chocked that one realizes the life giving value of air. When one breathes air freely, one doesn’t even realize its existence. In the same token, Ethiopians, as historical and “atinkun bay” people, know and appreciate true liberty, and democratic and human rights, and they have fought for it and won. They know the hardships of life, they have gone and are still going through hell on earth, not by the curse of God but by the selfish, greedy insatiable murderer leaders they have, until today. Ethiopians aspire and struggle to get rid of all these compound miseries.
Nowadays, what Ethiopians need is not anyone who preaches for them about democracy, affluent life they ought to get if they struggle and empty promise of good governance after this one / Weyane/ is done with. Indeed they need leaders. They need leaders who can give them leadership, leaders who do not succumb to scorn, hatred and fear to each other, leaders who do not aim their guns forward only to slaughter their friends by their sides, leaders who are all inclusive, committed and ready to work with whoever is organized in different name than theirs, but with same goal and purpose. Seasoned leaders are only instrumental to help get organized and are needed to give only much needed leadership, the rest is done by the people. The people need leaders to unify their resolves, not leaders who claim to say we are the only ones capable of and chosen to doing this and that. Yes, the people need leaders who are capable of uniting them in their struggle. The people do not need Messiah, a savior, as their struggle does not need one, but leaders, unifiers, and forward marchers in their struggle. They very well know that salvation is in their own hands, that the doers are themselves, that the power is theirs. The people know that liberation, peace and affluence are nothing but the fruits of their struggle. Political leaders are but instrumental to help bring these. Ethiopians have nothing in short supply. They have a naturally wealthy land God has provided them. They are the owners of a country of thirteen months of sunshine, four major rivers flowing in the four corners of the country waiting to fill the land with wealth. They are in possession of natural resource untouched, waiting for their good working hands. Rich in culture and History. And above all they have the determination, the willingness, the readiness and the ability to be the masters of their own destiny. There is no wrath upon us. Except one……. that befell on the Babylonian masons of old time, so to call it.
Current Public Consensus.
It wound not require reporters or observers or poll gatherers to conduct a public polling, or grievance registration to understand the wrath, the grievance, even the sense of betrayal, the disapproval and the enmity the people have toward the system. One will not be surprised to find that the system is totally hated, despised and rejected, that the people are determined to shove it aside and vote in the right one in place. This confirms to us the fact that one of the preconditions/ prerequisites, the so called objective conditions, to bring about a change in the status quo is fully in place, calling the other aspect, the subjective condition dealt above to make the change a reality.
Four reasons why the system must go:-
.The system is Illegitimate.
Any despised, cruel, inhuman system running against the groove lacks legitimacy. Ours lacks legitimacy for the sole reasons of robbing every thing the nation has and working to the fulfillment of the notorious agenda of obliterating the pride of the nation and the people. Democracy is the name. But democracy and dictatorship, democracy and tyranny, democracy and money laundering, democracy and 16 years in office, democracy and murder, harassment and torture, democracy and thievery of any sort, democracy and irresponsibility and unaccountability do not mix. Has any one ever heard of a ruling party making its supreme goal, the destruction of its own country in any step it takes? Or of any political party running business robbing the coffers of the country, anywhere in the world? They have done all this including the controlling of every lucrative public property; and now in 16 years, the bosses and their kith and kin are in the ranks of billionaires. This is what we see in the currant Ethiopian situation. How do you expect such kind of greed to tally with democracy?
.The system has violated the Democratic and Human right of the people.
In the current Ethiopia, one can’t talk, walk, sleep and wake freely. Fear has reigned, mistrust prevails, uncertainty looms, hatred has reached sky high and the resolve, the determination, the willingness and readiness to pay sacrifices for the attainment of freedom and to free the land from these bonds is in its record high. In short there is no democracy. There is no respect of the basic human rights. The system has proven itself to be one of the worst in the world by any yardstick of good governance. And it waits for the powerful arms of the people to be uprooted and shoved aside by any means possible. To say any thing more is to play in words.
. The system has committed war crime locally and across the border.
The people in the north, the east, the south, the west and the center are one after the other the victims of this regime. No one is spared; no one is left unscathed by the terror the system purposefully carries out. You can flip through few pages of the past few years and you will find genocide perpetrated by the gun slingers, the security, and the militia of the dictator working under his direct command even in mosque and church yards. Violation of human rights are committed on every member of society and at every corner of the land nationally, and across the boarder as is the case in Somalia internationally. Any one group or Government who associate with this kind of tyranny must reexamine their position before risking their reputation and face the judgment of time and History.
. The system can’t administer the affairs of the people.
When the people are dissatisfied and had enough with the so called ‘leaders” they resort to violence. Ethiopia today is like a volcano which is going to erupt. The tremor is felt, in the remotes, if one wants to see until it engulfs the center and whole region, it is a matter of time. Some are forced to pick up arms and still some are under war footage One can’t fail to contemplate at the solution if able to see the looming danger. The danger of spontaneity, the over flowing wrath of the people to take its course of action. Too much boiled coffee unattended, will over flow and extinguish the fire by its own, so goes a popular saying. There will be no let-out to the current crisis if those in the opposition do not come to their senses and are not taking care of the whole resolution finding process in time. For this, it has to be stressed again and again that the opposition must, at any cost, and at any sacrifice( one obvious and serious one being the egotrip) stand in unison, must aim their guns forward not to slaughter their friends at their sides, but aiming and giving it the final go to where the real target is. It is true, when you hear or read about your own story from others, you have to expect the story is either chopped into half, twisted, or completely altered. In the worst case scenario, they inject their hidden agenda and push it down your throat. But we now know better than any body, when it comes to our own agenda!!
God bless Ethiopia and its people!!
Happy Millennium for all!!
