Wolde Tewolde, alias Obo Arada Shawl, December 23, 2007
Encounter
On Friday morning, a day of freedom, I came across of an old friend by the name of Kebede Essatu, a poet and a revolutionary of a kind. I always tease him whenever I see him. He had sacrificed his education for the sake of EPRP and thereby for the sake of the Ethiopian Eway Revolution. This time he somewhat teased me about the split of EPRP leadership? According to rumors he said that EPRP leaders have split and have shared the Party’s asset. Or, he further asked me if there is a process of reconciliation as he came to read it on websites.
Although I do not know much of the reconciliation process, I know that there is no dividend to be shared out to anybody. However, we continued the discussion about EPRP’s leadership row. I told Kebede to look for the truth. “What is the truth?” he said in his usual emotional mood. I continued to explain in the following manner:
“We all should ask,” I said to Kebede, “Who holds the truth?” Did the truth about EPRP leadership in America gone with Belayneh alias known as Mersha or is it still with Assefa aka Fassika? How do you know where the truth is? Kebede asked me again? There is no truth, he seemed to utter in his inner own voice. Off hand, I told him what I have heard from the participants in the Conference as the truth. And our discussion went on for a while. Ato Kebede and I can only talk about EPRP’s leadership in America. The leadership we know about EPRP is around these two individuals in relations to the areas known as North America and Canada. That is all.
I reminded Ato Kebede that every time, there comes a fundamental change in a nation or a country or a system of government, there is bound to be a shift and a hope for finding one’s niche. We have seen this during the collapse of the ancien regime of Haile Sellassie I, where a lot of people had shifted with the wind even by betraying the Monarchy – whose legitimacy comes from EGZIABHER
When the DERG whose legitimacy emanated from the military power came to end; there was a shift for which Kebede himself was a witness. By the way I have encouraged Ato Kebede to go to Addis Addis when he told me that he had three goals in mind.
- To demand the release of Debteraw and his comrades
- To open a branch office for EPRP and
- To participate in the drafting of the Constitution of Ethiopia.
Now, it is the same thing, there seems or there is a perception that the TPLF is going to collapse any time soon and therefore, there is a glimpse of hope within some groups that it is time for them to be on the bandwagon.
Kebede asked me what I think about the split in EPRP’s leadership as many have asked me before, and here is what I think.
This was not narrated to him as he was with some body and that we did not want to bother the other person with our somewhat private but serious discussion.
HISTORY
31 years ago, on September 11, 1976, the military government known as the DERG officially declared EPRP as the public enemy number one. The DERG by declaring this proclamation proceeded to wipe out EPRP. A peaceful dissent by EPRP was met by savage torture and murder of its members and supporters.
After 17 years, the DERG was the one that was wiped out and not EPRP.
According to the reports made by Belayneh, Woyane, Shaebia and the Sudanese government launched a war against EPRA and presented themselves as true Ethiopian democrats. Simultaneously, EPRP was excluded from the London Conference that was meant to hand over power to the insurgents, on the pretext that they do not have a Fighting Army like that of OLF, TPLF and Shaebia.
After seven years, all of the peace loving and democrats of Woyane and Shaebia exposed themselves in bloody battles resulting in an endless war of nerves and wasted resources. Above all, the TPLF and the EPLF fighters is becoming dustbin of history. Only their leaders are reported to live comfortably and luxuriously.
After 16 years, TPLF and Shaebia are still remained unpopular governments. But the EPRP collective leadership is still remained intact with both integrity and loyalty to the Eway Revolution.
Why is this anomaly has occurred? Is it the leadership style that mattered? Or is it the democratic style that is at work?
In other words, Shaebia imprisoned 15 of their leadership comrades, Woyane dismissed five of their leadership comrades, and Kinjit fired 5 of their leadership. Ask your self whether EPRP leaders have fired their fellow leaders. Absolutely not. Only member’s votes can put them down. Where is the democracy in action? I leave this for the readers to answer.
It is now a truism that is what is most important is not a country’s first election, but its second and subsequent elections. And what matters is not simply that people have the right to vote, but they are offered a real Choice, under conditions that are truly free and fair. EPRP believes that this phenomenon is not happening in Ethiopia today.
Elections are one part of a democratic symphony. This should have been a reminder for Kinjit leaders and members. A full orchestra is required, including markets that reward initiative; legal structure that prevail justice, police that respect due process; and a press corpse that is free to pursue the facts and publish the truth. EPRP has learnt this not only from history books but also from bitter experience in Ethiopia.
Split Over Democracy or DEMOCRACIA?
Let me go back and speak with Kebede. Leadership and Relationship with EPRP was never about property or financial gain. It is about understanding and working together.
Two individual of EPRP collective leadership members became dictators. Assefa and Hama Tuma were labeled as dictators of EPRP. Are they really? Assefa’s dictatorship is very well known in North America. Kebede knows it and Berhanu Shalleka knows it because both claims that Assefa has never oppose them let alone to dictate them.
What about Hama Tuma? Hama Tuma is a satirist. He cuts through the baloney and gets to the truth. Wit has its place in Ethiopian politics, and people always like to laugh where Mr. Hama Tuma offers them in his writings. But funny can be a distraction from the serious stuff that Hama conveys to Ethiopians. Hama Tuma writes about Ethiopian elites, the African leaders, Texan Ethiopians etc. Ethiopian culture, opposition to the war in Somalia involvement and the way Eritrea is separated from Ethiopia and so on and so forth. Mr. Tuma has always been funny in his writings for a lifetime of making people laughs and critically think. Ato Tuma tries to sound deadly earnest even, in truth, a little ponderous at times as he seeks to be a real democrat. What comrade Hama now needs is gravitas. True democracy is never achieved- it is always a pursuit
If EPRP that love liberty is weary, then those who love power will always sweep all of us away. That is indeed the fear of Hama Tuma and it is a legitimate fear. In other words, DEMOCRACIA is an Ethiopian version of democracy.
As to the question of Ato Mersha, we have gone through this before. When Kiflu Tadesse wrote a history of EPRP, we have agreed to respect each other and do the right thing until Ethiopia offers an opportunity for EPRP to be a candidate as a political party. When that time comes, Ato Mersha can campaign that he has never stopped the entire journey of EPRP’s long struggle and that he has been wounded in the battle whereas Ato Kifle can claim by saying that he had written a partial history of EPRP but stopped somewhere in between. I thought we have agreed on this. Ato Kiflu has parked so to speak while Ato Mersha was actively involved in bringing back the former EPRP members back. At the beginning Ato Mersha’s attempt was noble but somewhere I lost him when he was deeply involved in bringing old leaders and intellectuals back to struggle. His task was not about recruiting, it was rather about convincing individuals with new ideas or telling the future plans of EPRP. It is true that ideas can bring people but people cannot bring ideas. I am not opposing that he should not bring back old comrades to the struggle but they should be convinced first why they come back. After all EPRP is for everyone and everybody. But what every one should accept is that there is one and only one EPRP Organizational Tree and a center. In terms of space and time, there is AAssimba, there is TSelmti and Mercato, i.e. ATM.
In order to walk away from EPRP’s path of struggle, one has to evaluate what the stated programs of EPRP were. For your evaluation, they are written down in the following.
EPRP’s declared programs
- Replacement of the military by provisional popular government
- Recognition of basic democratic rights
- Political prisoners should released
- Eritrean question must be resolved peacefully and democratically
- Peasants must be armed
- Economic demands must be fulfilled and
- Ethiopia must be free from foreign domination
How many of these demands are met today? I leave the answer to the readers of this article.
CONFUSED OR CONFUSING?
SECURITY, PROPSPERITY AND VALUE for all Ethiopians is at stake. Debteraw’s
CULTURE AND FAITH is calling us for an action. Let us free him to free Ethiopia.
Here is how things should work with EPRP collective leadership
EPRP has three layers of leadership.
- Organizational leadership,
- Ideological leadership and
- Political leadership
They all work as a team and are known as collective leadership.
Organizational
A= V-V-V, i.e. voluntarism-vote-victory
The question of priority is very important not only for EPRP but for the whole civilized world. EPRP appeals to voluntarism by educating, persuading or agitating. No threat or cheat. In other words, the Machiavellian type of attaining power by any means necessary is not its forte. YETM FISCHEW DQUATUN AMCHW roughly means the end justifies the means. Instead EPRP teaches, “the means justifies the ends.” Once this is accomplished, then volunteers will be organized to participate or in this case VOTE. After a vote, then they considered their mission as VICTORY. But other organizations and parties do vice versa. Most of them, they prefer, victory first. Judge for yourself, which is better. EPRP members or associates whether former or current do not regret of being associated with EPRP for precisely because they were volunteers before victory. I do not want to blame all our intellectuals for not deciphering the Latin letter of “A”. Our Geez letter of “LE” is reversed.
Ideological
B = 13
Decipher the letter B,
Spin the letter E
Put them together and
Be whatever you want to BE
There are three categories of people, those who search for BENEFT = B
Those who search for BLOOD = B and
Those who search for BELIEF = PRINCIPLE
I hope when we talk about EPRP leadership, we are referring to PRINIPLE and not to blood is thicker than water or is there a benefit for me. If we are going to judge about EPRP’s leadership, it is always about the belief and value for Ethiopians. Those who look for better financial benefit or for their kin’s and kiths, EPRP is not for them. EPRP has been and still is a haven for Integrity, Love and Trust.
Political
C = Culture
Like any culture, the Ethiopian culture is very complex. Although many educated individuals attempted to challenge and change the Ethiopian culture, EPRP did not even try to change let alone to challenge the culture. By the way culture in the Ethiopian context culture is “ a state of mind” while in the Eritrean context it is about telling yourself about yourself. What a contrast!!
Conclusion
Only a popular and democratic government could give Ethiopians and Eritreans a chance to unite and survive. That had been the goal of the popular movement, which was betrayed by the intervention of the military. The soldiers did not relinquish power as they have initially promised (See “Confession” in Amharic by Tesfaye Lemma.)
Woyane did not hand over power to the elected Kinjit groups. And there is no guarantee that from now on, that EPRDF will hand over power if they loose in the coming elections.
Power of the people comes only when and only when the seven points of programs as proposed by EPRP comes to fruition. Although these were written and demanded a long time ago, they are still valid, after all DEMOCRACIA – the organ of EPRP warned all of us by writing the following: “ALEBABSEW BIYARSU BE’AREM YIMELESU.”
For comments and criticism woldetewolde@yahoo.com
Mr Wolde,I am not clear as to the difference between M ersha and others. Since both are and were the influential political party leaders of EPRP, we cannot ignore as simple as an individuals choice. Their action and intention to do may have something positive or negative results on the future course and compass of EPRP.
The second thing what I need a clarification is your statement on bringing of former comrades of EPRP,as your saying goes” It is true that ideas can bring people but people cannot bring ideas.” what doe it mean?
As to my outlook, people maybe attracted by the noble goals of the organization that you also stated. people may also bring an idea to the given political organization through different means of communication of the organization. To make clear my idea any political organization brings his new and old member through his noble idea. At the same time the organization may recruit peoples who can endorse new idea for it.
Please would you further clarifyit?
Dear Wolde Tewolde,
No one can thank you enough for introducing such a precious originality and showing creative approaches for all actors within the Ethiopian political arena.
May you live longer than Mathusala with your mind intact and your humor ever green!
Ghennet
Gelaw:
Thanks for asking basic questions.
First question: “The difference between Mersha and others”. As far as I am concerned there are no others. It is between Mersha versus Fassika. If you know the history of these two members of the leadership, they came to America way back early part of the 1990. Since that time, both were working as co-managers and co-leaders in North America and Canada. I do not want to go into that in detail. The current question revolves around these two leaders. Mersha has been travelling all over America and Canada in order to “recruit” or to plead old members of EPRA to return to their mother party of EPRP. The intention was worthwhile but it is not a new attempt. Many EPRA members have been asked to come back to struggle. But their main demand was on what issues, issues of history, issues of future plan of action, issues of coalition with other organizations and so on and so forth. Both individuals have their own history and testimony. Only those who were involved with them can testify. Let them speak out, if need be.
But for your question to answer is simply this. There are no two EPRP’s. There is only one which includes, the Army, the Party and the Community at large. As I wrote before, EPRP leadership has gone through three major hicups. 1. the Anja alias known as the “kickaway” democracy 2. the Bitena alias known as the “runaway” democracy and 3. this one you are asking the split alias known as “walkaway” democracy. As you have said aptly, the last two have positive contributions, if properly handled by both individuals. One should not use anti-democracy to fight democracy. (what do you think about this?)
Otherwise Ato Gelaw democracy is always with the ordinary members of EPRP not with the leadership.It is not like other Ethiopian organizations. If you want to find the truth, ask yourself this? Who posseses Integrity and Loyality simultaneously.
Second question: It is related to your first question. I was referring as to how to bring the ex-mebers of EPRP. They need to hear new ideas to come back. If you do that, not only old members will come back but new ones will flock to join EPRP. EPRP became popular because it made people conscious or in todays parlance INFORMED. If you do that of necessity people will be organized. That is a simple logic.
But to make more clear for you, we hear all the time in America that someone is ready to buy IDEAS for millions of dollars. I do not know where Mr. Gelaw lives, but that is the way in America. There is plenty of money but there is little or no ideas, especially during this era. This is because, all what we consider as ideas is not, it is called INFORMATION. Information is a processed data. In today’s world, every body has an access to free information. What is needed is KNOWLEDGE OR WISDOM.
To make long conversation short. The real EPRP is endowed with information+Knoledge+wisdom.
Thanks again.
Selam dear Tewold,
Thank you for your well put arguements you had with Kebede. However, this piece was written in respond to those walked-out anjas way before the congress took place.
Democracy is The Way!!
There are times when we must stand tall and defend our beliefs. Democracy is the way and that is the only way to defend our beliefs and as well to resolve our internal conflicts. Rumors aside, chitchats too, what we need is entertaining issues and ideas, not from a personal perspective from which one considers true or wrong but an agenda open to everyone to discuss issues, topics and ideas to enlightening critics of all convictions. Democracy is the way to free ourselves from ignorance, prejudice, and fallacy. Give thought to political ideals and think and write more about something worthwhile as a possible course of action instead of regurgitating one gossip after another. ‘A house dividing against itself cannot stand’. Likewise, a minority group within a party that has specific interests or beliefs that are not always in harmony with the party itself is prone to work against its own fate.
Be that as it may, I sincerely believe the general membership of our organization is in control of its own party. We are free to express our feelings and have equal right to participate in any given decision-making processes. Apparently, the main reason why we partake in such important meetings as in the Conferences and Congress is nothing but to decide what is best for our organization. We consciously decide things based on the detailed facts and points and without being forced by anybody other than our political beliefs and desires to win through despite obstacles. True, all meetings including conferences, congresses and high-level-meetings are designed for us to discuss serious matters, for example, internal conflicts, policies, and methods of struggles. So it is up to us not to abuse but to use the opportunity at hand, and to stand tall and defend our common belief within our party. The ultimatum here is either to take the advantage of the opportunity at hand so to secure our party now or never. All in all, isn’t that what democracy is all about?
Democracy is the way ladies and gentlemen, for us to use it as a tool to pull up the root causes of all tribulations that create havoc and inconsistencies for one and all in the party. In short, democracy is the way to reform, to change and improve our performances in a world of politics by correcting mistakes, removing inconsistencies and abuses, and imposing modern methods and values that help us to return to the right position of all time. The right position in this case is to be free of the growing pains from within, to free ourselves from ignorance, prejudice, speculation, and deductive reasoning. And best of all, to refrain from squandering our secrets out to strangers and other valued information, nothing else but in order to safeguard our party and shelter our comrades from enemies back home.
Having said that, there is no reason for any member to gazing at the sky above to learn and determine wherein the ultimate power lies in EPRP. Indeed, the power lies in the assembly where formal meetings of delegates are present in the congress. Formally, Delegates come collectively to discuss and decide on tactics, strategies and policies of the organization. As delegates are chosen to represent and given the authority to act on behalf of their respective regions, they also speak and act for their constituencies in an official way. They reflect on the relationship that exists between members of all ranks within EPRP that are primarily arranged into a coherent whole on the basis of harmony of opinion, interest, and visions as well. So any group that goes against this very principle in which members of all ranks do value as is prime and vital is divisive by nature. In a democracy such gesture that goes against democratic principles and practices cannot be tolerated but must be dealt accordingly.
Nonetheless, some extraordinary measures are necessary to ensure that candidates are qualified to run for a leadership position. Also as candidates are subject to evaluation, they must be evaluated carefully and approved by the majority vote rather than rushing to vote in favor of or in opposition to individuals candidates based on some sort of special interests. In other words, candidates are elected on grounds of particularly high quality on which a comparison could be made to elect them out of the crowd. Finally, all appointees representing of all individuals, cells, and committees of our party in the congress have the power to vote in and to vote out both the incumbent and the incoming party officials in the congress. In such a way, we will resolve the dilemma and the obstacle our party is bumping into. Because, democracy is the way to eliminate all the discrepancies that contradict the rules and the elements that are not in keeping with the party’s rule itself.
And again, one must recognize that The Rank and File of EPRP is not an irresponsible mass, rather it is well-informed political elite. With this truth in mind, bringing some sort of general talk and opinion of uncertain reliabilities to our attention has nothing to do with that of rank and file of EPRP to change trends and become doubting Thomas overnight. The fact remains solid however, that the rank and file of EPRP is sensible and capable of making rational judgments. Any leader that believes contrary to this fact shall fail miserably. The same is true though not only recognizing members’ right in terms of expressing their opinions and preferences, but our leaders also have to recognize how much power members may have over their fate in particular and of their organization in general. Their power stretches including and up to disqualifying their leaders or authorizing them at any given time. In short, to the best of my conviction, there is no power higher than the principle, the discipline and the landmark decisions of the general assembly of our party. After all, Democracy is the way, that way; EPRP will resolve its problems and shall break the shackle of all barriers on it way to victory.
Besides, I sincerely believe that the wealth of EPRP is its well-founded principle. An important principle required in any given consideration. I suppose the vast majority members of our party can agree with this trend. Indeed, we are led to believe that the democratic principles and practices are the basic way in which our system of belief works. I believe the democratic principles and practices we continue to hold also have more power than any official positions within EPRP itself. So Democracy is the way, and democracy is the habitual style and the practice of our party’s life.
In truth, history has it that EPRP is an old and wise by status and reputation in Ethiopian politics and indeed EPRP is known to have been standing firm and steady despite a wave of criticism from left and right. So far, in my view, that is part of the reasons why EPRP won the hearts and minds of members in particular and Ethiopian people in general to this day and age. Without it, EPRP is nothing but like any other flip-flop organizations whose direction is decided none other by sort of the flip of a coin.
Like so,, for the fact that EPRP has been involved in Ethiopian politics for so long, for the fact that it has been in direct contact with Ethiopian national struggle for the last three decades and exposed to events of all types over a period of time, EPRP has developed the ability, the skill and the know how in terms of tolerating diverse views and other democratic practices from within than the rest. The same is true though that its members are enthusiastic and quick to learn new things to make significant changes in their political life so to make it fit and functions better and of course in the best interest of Ethiopian public. And yet, it is up to members to perform collectively and function in cooperation with the entire body of their organization as one entity nothing but to make their organization function better than ever before.
In conclusion, whatever decisions and actions are made are made by the majority voice and of course in accordance with the correct and accepted political process of our party. In unison, the elected leadership has an obligation to carry out its mission and accomplish its task in accordance with the decision and actions made by the consented majority. Besides, since it is elected by the consented majority it has a legitimate authority to impose the instructions and directions given by the majority itself and make it work in an orderly fashion. Not only that, while the leadership has the ultimate authority to enforce compliance with decisions and enjoy leading the entire system of its organization in an orderly fashion, members of all ranks on the other hand are also bound to obey the rules, disciplines and regulations of their party and pay their dues in time. By doing so, members of all ranks can acknowledge the legitimacy of their leadership and the belief system they adopt to follow. Members of all ranks must agree to abide by the rules of the majority voice as well. When so, both leaders and the rank and files can find themselves on the same page in terms of taking and sharing responsibilities and know how to run things in a coordenated fashion. After all, responsibility is the condition of being given to somebody else as a duty in which the decision and action of the majority is respected at all times. In the end, the leadership has a responsibility to carry out the policy, tactic, and strategy that have been ordered, planned, and stated by the majority voice of members. And also, the leadership has to make sure that the instruction that was given by majority members is put into action on a case by case basis. After all, Democracy is the way and it is a tool for us to dispel doubts and anxieties. We do so in any given meetings we hold since the meetings are designed for us to express our opinion and decide what we feel is right for our party. To that end, Democracy is the way to bring a disagreement to an end.
Peace be with you all!
ENaCHeNiFaLLeN
Dear Wolde Tewolde,
As always you are the mirror image of Debteraw. You teach,inform and argue about the TRUE ESSENCE OF WHAT IHAPA IS ALL ABOUT.
The true CONTENT OF DEMOCRACIA, IS WHEN IT OPERATES UNDER THE LAW, whether in an organiztion or a Nation at large. The walk-out group forefited its democratic rights when it stepped out of the dully constituted congress. It’s a reckles disregard to violate the fundemaental rules of the organization in the name of “dissent”. It is abosultley unacceptable. Millions are struggling and hunderds of thousands have sacrficed to establish a rule of law not of men. What ever indviduals POSTION, from leadershp to rank and file, are subject to obeying the rule of the organization. This has been the time tested tradition of EPRP. As the history of the organization proved time and again, when few individuals do not get their way or their ideas are defeated, they mastermind a plan to change the rule of the game by other means;Anja,Betena,Run-away Anja.
If we accept the logic of these group,which is to form an alternate(stalite)or parllel organization every time a disgruntled indidviduals or groups arises suffering from disillusionment, it is like accepting a “cessionist” movement from its mother/father country for its own sake.
Democracy is not a system to please everyone and everybody. It is a mutual agreement under a specfic rules of engagement to reach a common puprose. Each and every one of the community in question will have the right to present and argue his/her case and abide by the decsion the majority makes.
The very nature of this short comings to satisfy all the parties particularily the minortiy vote getters or the other way around the minoty power holders who are fearful of the majoty rule that despise and fear Democracy. The irony of political discourse in our time is,it is the later group who sings louder and swears much about Democracy while at the same time oblitrating the very foundation of the rule of the game.
Advanced democratic cultures and systems has devloped since the times of ancient Greeks. Democratic societies are more stable and fairer when they constituted the protection of minorities from the fear of tyranny of the majority.That is why complex laws of jurprudence have devloped.
EPRP IS THE FOUNTAINHEAD OF THESE TRADIATIONS IN THE ETHIOPIAN BODY POLITICS. THE ADVANCEMENT DEMOCRATIC & HUMAN RIGHTS REGRDLESS OF COLOR,CREED OR NATIONIALITIES.
LONG LIVE EPRP.
Yassazinale, Ye-Ihapa Negger.
This is nothing but delusional! EPRP is democratic! give me a break! You leaders never show up on the media unless they control it, nobody knows them, they are there for life, they have no accountablity, the organization has never acheived anything, NADA and you tell me this is good for Ethiopia. That I guess is the very meaning of insanity.
I happen to know Debteraw. He never impressed me and you remind me the cruel and deadly days of Tigrai.
EPRP is a cult based organization with its theory being its victimhood. This is claimed by people such as Hama Tuma with his loud mouth, and with nothing of accomplisment. Thanks for the welfare of France he can brag about sacrifice from his luxury in Paris. If things go bad he will travel to the Palace to join his father in-law, Meto Aleka Girma.
EPRP is dead, its leaders are waiting for nature to take its course. Until then they will continue to divide and sabotage the struggle for democratic struggle.
Mr. Amah Amut!! What a name!!!
I think you are searching for individuals who can lead you to hell or heaven. What EPRP wants you to do is to lead yourself. Be confident, be independent and then be a CIA or CID. It is that simple. Don’t try to kill yourself by accusing individuals.
As to Debteraw, it is good to know him. I am sure he did not impress you as you said, especially if you are from the cities of Asmara, Makale or Adwa.
If you are sure EPRP is dead, why should you worry. Get to sleep. It is Christmas. You wrote an offensive comment on Holy day. At least you could have done this tomorrow. If you are an honest person, ask Why and How to solve problems of Ethiopia, Tigrai, Eritrea etc. etc.
Thanks for your so-called democratic struggle.
Miss or Mr. Amha amut,
You do not be impressed by Debteraw because you do not enjoy life over the disadvantage and miserable life of Ethiopian as long as being impressed by Debteraw.
Debteraw could not be a symbol of liberty for you since he never attempt and advise to sale the sole and the flash as well as the proud of a nation for your tip payer.
You do not be attracted by values and principles of Debteraw because his teaching and philosophy’s is all about self reliance and independent.
So your resentment for Debteraw is natural as the old English adage goes “crooked by nature never made straight by education”
Amha,amit.
As I understood from your crook comment, EPRP is dead on the eyes of you.
By the way, how do you define death?
Follow me, the most famous orthodox song saint Yared is dead physically but he is immortal in his timeless and generation less work. Do you agree? You must.
Similarly there are peoples who a living dead.
What are those people?
A/ those who are valueless and mercenary who acts and thinks in favors of their tip payers.
To make it clear for instance, those who adhere ethnic politics are a living dead. Because their motto and principle is based on the foundations of divide and rule. It is all about hatred and prejudices.
Since their purpose is clearly rejected by the majorities of the people as results of their proven bad deed, their idea is dead. So it is appropriate to call such organizations and individuals to say dead, although they are physically alive.
Let me add you another example,Kinijit who are headed by Birhanu Nega is a good examples of living dead. Because they have betrayed first the Ethiopian people second their principle and values. Now I think it is clear.
Based on the above analysis there is no any fact to say that EPRP is dead.
Amha,amit.
As I understood from your crook comment, EPRP is dead on the eyes of you.
By the way, how do you define death?
Follow me, the most famous orthodox song composer saint Yared is dead physically but he is immortal in his timeless and generation less work. Do you agree? You must.
Similarly there are peoples who a living dead.
What are those people?
A/ those who are valueless and mercenary who acts and thinks in favors of their tip payers.
To make it clear for instance, those who adhere ethnic politics are a living dead. Because their motto and principle is based on the foundations of divide and rule. It is all about hatred and prejudices.
Since their purpose is clearly rejected by the majorities of the people as results of their proven bad deed, their idea is dead. So it is appropriate to call such organizations and individuals to say dead, although they are physically alive.
Let me add you another example,Kinijit who are headed by Birhanu Nega is a good examples of living dead. Because they have betrayed first the Ethiopian people second their principle and values. Now I think it is clear.
Based on the above analysis there is no any fact to say that EPRP is dead.
Mr/Madam Amha Amit,
Your vulgar comment reminds me of “Junk- in- Junk out” an ABC of computer programming. Your mind is made up with vitriolic sentement about EPRP, only venomous words are manufactured in the receses of your brain. You are affilicted by hate, the very mention of the name of EPRP drives you crazy,let alone its success. Any way you are entitled to your opinion not the FACTS. Believe it or not, one of EPRP’s goals is to protect and defened your right as an Ethiopian? to express your views as long as you do not employ violence to advance your goals against the Ethiopian people. You see,Amit, give Debteraw its due respect for allowing you to write your disagreeable and for some of us the readers a very hostile and out of the normal political dscourse.
Finally stop playing SATAN to declare EPRP is dead and still worrying about its existance. Take a break!
Think hard, why a multi billion Soviet Russia bank rolled Mengistu H.Mariam regime total onslaught on EPRP and against democratic forces,its successor the Woyane ethnic junta led by Melese/Legesse with similar resources and big power support is heading towards the dust bin of history? And think, such pathethic indviduals like you,Amit,mean to militant and principled IHAPAWIAN? NOTHING,NADA… It is only saddens us to even to respond to you for only we do it for our fallen comrades who are not here to defend themseleves. That is a solomon pledge that we promised to protect and defend when their name and deeds and their beloved organization is descrated by the likes of you.
LONG LIVE EPRP
One sentence of Germami Neway that is commented for Amha amit, strikes my mind.
It appears as the following.
“You see,Amit, give Debteraw its due respect for allowing you to write your disagreeable and for some of us the readers a very hostile and out of the normal political discourse.”
It really says a lot for some one who is rational and has an experience for all Diasporas based website.
Most of website in the first place has not discussion or debating forum, that the readers may post their comment. What the role of the readers in that website is only to be baptized by the webmaster and some regular article contributors of the website.
On these writings, there is no any mechanism designed by the web site owners to forward and post a comment. For me such website is not working on basic democratic prencoples.it is entirely an acts of undemocratic procedure.
You can prove my statement at ethiomedia and addis voice.com.
There are others like Ethiopian reviews that have debating forum. But they cannot entertain all ideas because of their censor. If some one posts an idea that challenges the group they will delete at the speed of light.
But Debteraw is different than what I mentioned in the above. As you are looking, they are even entertaining the idea of Amha amit that is entirely founded on hatred.
Hence, we have at least to give and put this noble service at its proper place.
When we discrete them, we will be evaluated by readers how we are vulgar enough.
Place taker before you comment.
There is one Amharic saying to quote it proper.የሰው ልጅ እንኳን የሚናገረውን የሚጎርሰውን ይመጥናል፡፡ ስለዚህ እባካችሁ እየተስተዋለ ምን አባትና እናት ያሳደጋቸው ናቸው ያስብላል፡፡ አሳዳጊሀ አይባረክ የሚባለው እንዲህ አይነቱ ሰው ነው.
ብቻ ምን ታደረጉታላችሁ ቤትና ልብስ የማይሸፍነው ገመና የለም.አይደል
ጎበዝ ብዙዎቻችን ያልተገነዘብነው አንድ ሃቅ ያለመሰለኝ
በዚሀ ዌበወሳይት ምግባረ ብልሹ ጽሁፍ የሚያትሙት የእንዳርጋቸው ቡድንና አጋሩ ወያኔ ናቸው ስለዚህ ብዙም ልትደነቁም ሆነ ልታዝኑ አይገባም
አቶ እንዳርጋቸውም ሆነ ወያኔ ኑሮአቸው በእንደዚህ አይነት ሁኔታ የተመሰረተ ነው፡
ሁለቱም ቡድን በእውነት መከራከርና ከእውነት ፊት መቆም አይችሉም፡
በሌላ በኩል በእንዲህ አይነት ግርግር ቢያን የገንዘብ ጠቀሜታ እንደሚገኝም ጠንቅቀው ያዉቃሉ፡
ስለዚህ አንዳቸውንም የነሱን ስራ ንቀን ማለፍ የልብንመ.
በተለይ በሰቴት ዲፓርትምነት የተሰጣቸውን ተልእኮ እውን ለማድረግ ማለትም
ኢህአፓንና የአቶ ሃዬሉን ቡድን ማግለልና ቐንጅት የሚለውን ፈቃድ ለአየለጫሚሶ ሰጥቶ እንብሃኑ ነጋ የሚደንሱበትን የተሳካ ሜዳ ለመፍጠር ሥመ ማጥፋትና ቅስም መስበር አድርጉ የተባሉት የትግል ስልተ ነውና ነቅተን እንጠብቃቸው
በነገራችን ላይ በዚሀ ደባም ወያኔ የነብርቱካን ቡድን ጠሳታፊ ነው.
ሰሞኑን በመኢአድ ጽ/ቤት ዙሪያ የሚሰሩት ቲያትር አንዱ የዚህ ደባአካል ነው.
አላማውም መኢአድን ማጋለጥ ነው.
ቁምነገሩና መሰተዋል ያለበት ቅንብሩ የሰቴት ዲፓርትመንትም ጭምር መሆኑ ነው
አላማዉም
1 የቅንጂትን ፈቃድ በነአየለ ጫሚሶ አማካኝነት ለነብርሃኑ መስጠት
2 ኢንጅነር ሃሉንና ዒህአፓን ዳግም ከኢትዮጵያ ፖለቲካ ሜዳ ማስወጣት ነው፡
I baffled by the excessive zeal of those few die hard EPRPites. I suspect they are above 50, suspicious of any new ideas and forces.
We just witnessed the split of EPRP and their internal workings were exposed for the first time. The essay be Abo Arada seems to be a mea culpa for the authoritarian wing that is controlled operated and railroaded by Hama Tuma and Fasika Belete.
This group is the unreconstructed EPRP of the student movement: Parochial, self righteous, crude bordering on the rude, suspicious of new ideas, not accountable to anyone outside of its narrow clique, not resulted oriented, victimizes its less aware and selfless members to use for its victim-hood and to build its cult and jealously protective of its leadership turf.
Finally a few had had the courage to see their erroneous ways and left the organization. They went public and attempted to talk to the Ethiopian public at large. They were available and ready to answer to the public. This might be too little and too late for they do not have any political attraction for the young generation. Their Achilles heels might be their commitment and belief in the discredited and marginalized politics of EPRP.
What ever the current program of EPRP is it can not escape its storied and destructive past. Storied for its selfless and bright members who sacrificed their lives!
Destructive for its incompetent, secretive, cliquish, undemocratic and cultish leaders! The organization has not achieved anything in the last 35 years. Its leadership is almost in tact in spite of its dismal success. Some in the leadership is loud mouthed, rude, and antagonistic to anyone and everyone that does not kowtow to its line. This is the faction that is led by the two brothers: Iyassu and Samuel. Now it seems to have engulfed Fasika Belete.
So my friends the measure of an organization is not how long it has been around, how many people have died under its name or how boisterous and loud the leaders are. A good organization improves the lives of people, advances the political culture of the country and practices democracy both internally and nationally.
EPRP is a failed organization with the youngest member around 50 and its stale politics and hateful propaganda will not resuscitate it.
So friends use you mind, it s terrible thing to waste!!
I think it is hasty generalization to condom the whole parts and pasts of EPRP.
The first thing, when we evaluate our past action whether it was done by EPRP or anybodyelse, we have to take in to consideration the following facts.
The action what we are evaluating is dependent of,
In relation to the then existing external and internal conditions,
To the necessity and freewill of the then actors of the politics,
In relation to the then individuals and as a whole social consciousness,
The other most important thing is that, we cannot definitely say the occurrences what was happened before 50 years was entirely wrong and right based on our today’s knowledge, information and experience.
If we use our past for accusation and to have a political stand of today, it is absolutely wrong.
Then how we must use our past is that,
To take a lesson from it,
To compare and contrast, when we follow this logics of history of philosophy we save us from many mistakes.
Let me quote one important thing in relation these facts.
TPLF tries to re restructuring Ethiopian politics based on the past Ethiopian history. They passed a decision against many Ethiopians based on what they call it Nefitgna.
Have you seen how it is dangerous to evaluate and take stand on today’s politics based on our past? We must take balanced measure when we look bake our pasts. to go out of this line is to make a grave mistake.
Actually this error comes from lake of knowledge of philosophy of history.
ጉድ እኮ ነው
እንዴት የሰው ልጅ በልጅነት በአፍላነት ዘመኑ የሳይንስና ቴክኖሎጅ ይእውቀትና ምጥቀት ጣራ ዛሬ ከደረሰበት ሳይደርስ በጀማሪነት የሰራው ስራ ዛሬ ባዘውንት እድሜና በዘመኑ የእውቀት መስፈር ላይ ተመስርቶ መኮነን ይቻላል፡፡ይህን ለማለት ያነሳሳኘ አምሃ አሙት የተባሉ ግለሰብ የዛሬውን ኢህአፓ በትላነቱ በአፍላነት በጉብልነት ዘመኑ የሰራቸው በሙሉ ውጉዝ ከም አሪወስ ሲሉ በማየቴ ነው፡
ምነው ጃል ትላንትስ ቢሆን የጭሰኝነትንና የርሰተጉልትን ስርአት ላነዴም ለሁሌም ከኢትየጵያህዝብ ጀርባ መንግሎ የጣለው ኡሀአፓ አይደለም እንዴ
አረ ጎበዝ እየተስተዋለ ሁሌ ያለፈ ወቃሽ
አዲስ አሞጋሽ
የመሆን አባዜ መቸ ይሆን የሚለቀን
የሰው ልጅ ባለፈ ታሪክ ብቻ ተኮፍሶና ተኩራርቶ መኖር ካለበት ኢሀአፓ ቀዳሚውን ድርሻ ይወስዳል
ለኔ፡ የለም በትላነቱ ታሪካችን አንገምገም የሚል ቡድን ክመጣ
መኢሶን ፣ወያኔ ሁሉም ሀጢያተኛ ናቸው ከኢሃፓ በሰተቀር
እባካቸሁ እየተስተወለ
ሆነን እንዳንቀር ሜዳሌ የወለ
ሜዳላይ የቀረ
የኢህአፓን ጥፋት ልንገራችሁ ኢህአፓ ስልጣን መያዝ ያልቻለው
እንደወያኔና ሌሎቹ የትላንተና የዛሬ የፖለቲካ ድርጅቶች ከኢተየጵያ የተፈጥሮ ጠላቶቿ ጋር ሆኖ ኢትዮጵያን መዉጋትና ማድማት ባለመቻሉ ስልጣን መያዝ አልቻለም
2 ዛሬም ብዙ ነገሮችን ገራገር ሆነው ማየትን ይሻሉ
ይህ ነው ጥፋታቸው የነደብተራው
How would EPRP benefit from hard line rejectionist actions? Why is it so difficult to resolve issues of “democracy” within the EPRP? I have sympathized the party for so long that I was always asking why many young people even new older people are not joining it? Tewolde’s article could be the clue to the answer. The EPRP is pushing a pipe dream and it cannot see the future with a different viewing glass. If we think we have not moved an inch by using our odd and old methods we need to sit back, relax, and give up power to the new blood who could lead, even lead us astray for that is the way the young are allowed to flourish. That is the essence of democracy; making it right some times and making it wrong other times but always vigilant. What is happening now is vigilantism without regard to democratic principles. The Party born out of chaos should not be allowed to die in chaos. It is time you guys figured out the way for coming togehter by promising to narrow your divisions. PEACE!
they did not fire their comrades theykilled them
Question to Ato Wolde, I can say most of EPRP opponent always write and speak with excessive language, how this organization is controlled, manipulated and abused by few individuals whom they called Hama Tuma and Fassika.
Does not have the organization other central committee members except these people?
Why they are a target?
Second, some people charge you with a crime of isolation the struggle from Ethiopian use. Is it true?
Infact there are many charges by your opponent, which are not that much worth of mentioning.
I hope you will lend your hand to my questions as usual.
Correction please read this sentence as” Second, some people charge you with a crime of isolation the struggle from Ethiopian youth. Is it true?
Question to Amha Amut,
You have mentioned that EPRP do not move an inch due to its hardliner leadership.
As you know, Ethiopian politics is getting complicated day by day due to internal and external factors. Now, things are already reached to their negative peak value.
How can we dare to blame only EPRP, an organization who grew up under such difficulty circumstance?
To make it clear, our culture in relation to democratic right and to stand for your right is extremely backward.
It could not be changed by single political organization.
Is it appropriate only to blame EPRP for all bad what happened?
Alternatively, tell us what had to be done and not being done by EPRP.
The accusation-concerned sabotage against other political organization is not correct.failerity of any organization is directly related with the organization itself.
Ato Gorfu
We must be mindful of people’s behavior to their environment or surroundings. We are in an environment of denials and allegations. The world has changed in many ways especially in communication and knowledge. Truth comes from wisdom but it hurts. EPRP may be hurting a lot of people especially senstive people. But the truth of the matter, it is not Hama or Fassika. They do not control EPRP, they lead the Party not by force but by choice. The current members always elect them. EPRP does not belief in Appointment because it promotes DEMOCRACIA – a struggle for election process.
As to your second question, yes a lot of people charge ePRP as “not enlisting the youth”. First of all EPRP was formed by youth and now they are old but they have the experience, the cause and the bond. Secondly, their primary aim is to work for the coming generation ie posterity. That means, the youth is always included in EPRP’s program. Unlike many organizations, EPRP members do not look for extra privilege for themselves. If the future of the youth is guaranteed, the old guard will be happy to live with it. No more no less. EPRP does not cheat or threaten to recruit the youth to join its Org. Instead, it thrives on persuading the youth by its mission, vision and value. When and if the youth learns about the real EPRP, definitely, the youth will join the Party. If you are speaking about mass movement, EPRP has passed that stage.
Thanks for asking.
Dear Mr. Tewolde,
I enjoy your presentation. Be it analogy or numerology. I admire your tenacity in trying to keep Debu’s teaching ALIVE. My only criticism would be your haste to popularize the “stay-aways” ( My term )claim. I may be wrong, but that is what I felt. If I have judge you wronly. I do apologize and willing to be coorected. I have understood from your writing that you are willing to entertain opposing views or answer questions. My question to you sir is, have you discussed with any of the “walk-aways”, as to what their grievances were?. Why would they decide to take such a major step after all their sacrifices? Was it possible to have a democratic discourse in a majority built-in delegated congress? Is it approperiate to denigrate the ” walk-aways”, call them names or claim they are enemies and should be dealt with? Is it not true that the party has adopted the principles of multy-party democracy? ( Debteraw’s vision ?) Should the contribution of 80 million people and their “organization” be only judged vis a vis our party’s immpecable history? How can Mr. Hailu Shawel be a hero to most “stay-aways” (may very well deserve it )and Mr. Mersha overnight became a coward? If Mr. Shawel is considered hero ( who is a product of legal and peaceful form off struggle)why would Mr. Mersha be crucified for merley entertaing an idea of legalty? ( which was dead when proposed) Per Mr. Fasika’s response to an inqury at the 4th congress, he emphatically stated the problem was not due to the much stated and talked about affidavit. The issue of affidavit had been resolved and those who propsed it have abided by the majority decission i.e. 51% to 49%. Why is it all of a sudden used to demean those who had entertained the idea. Was it used as a ploy to marginalized the 49%? Was it wise when “stay-aways” tried to push away almost half of their membership? Since 51 to 49 was not a land slide victory, why is it the party in its time tested tradition did not try to persuade ( as opposed to get rid ) it’s almost half side? Why is it necessary at this age and time to use character assasination as a politcal ploy? The history of the party proves it sustained all problems by the strength of its ideas not name calling and defamation. Why do you think the “stay-aways” prefer this ploy that was never part of our heritage? I look forward to hear your opinion and learn. Thank you and keep blazing the trail!!!!!!
Ato EWNETU YIFERDAL
Thanks for your comments and inquiries. My presentation is both analogy and numerology. Your name is Truth plus Justice. Truth = 19 and it is slippery but J=10 it is within the limits. I do not want to go into the details of Truth because I do not know much about it.
But as to the stay-away democracy as you proposed is not acceptable. In fact, this term could have been used for those whom we label as Run-away. You know the run-aways are those who were associated with Bitena. Actually most of them were not bothered by this term, bacause the idea is staying away until things work out before continuing the struggle. But for this group, it is clearly walk-away from the meeting place. I was not there but a few of them had informed me and I know that there was a conference taking place. It is not like in Khartoum or Addis where individually were taking actions on their own. In this case, there was an assembly. If you want me to give you an analogy, take the case of COEDF where TPLF and EPLF were trying to walk away but despite the disruption, it continued and came up with an organization known as COEDF of which Ato Mersha was a big player. So let us agree, we still call them as walk-away democrats. After all it is not a bad thing as long as it is not a kick back. It will end there and EPRP will be still their esteemed Organization and Debteraw will be IMMOrtalized.
As to comparing Ato Mersha with Mr. Hailu, it is not proper. We are comparing apples and oranges. Both have long history not only of struggle but of principle of values. It is not appropriate to write it here. But in simple term, it is not about who is hero or not. Hailu’s heroism comes from his individual personality but Mersha’s comes from collective personalities. In EPRP traditon, all are heroes and heroines who stood for their rights and for the rights of others. I believe that is why if any member of EPRP says he stands for the entire Ethiopian people, he or she means that she is a role model and if a choice is given to the people,that one day the people will chose me or her or them or their Organization. But first things first, he or she must remain as a CID (Confident-Independent-Disciplines) as opposed to CIA (confident-independent-agent). The D&A is the key element here.
Inasmuch as Mersha = M = Money
and Wolde = W = wisdom
Inasmuch as Mesfin = M = Noble
and Walle = W = Inoble
That will be a disaster not for EPRP but for everybody and everyone. And you asked me why the walk-aways use this ploy. I have no idea except to recommend you to decipher the above formulae. All I have read is in their manifesto of dictatorship in EPRP. Yes there was and there is going to be dictatorship within EPRP. The dictators are the members not the leaders, that is the way DEMOCRACIA ALA EPRP operates and not as the splinters groups thinks it democracy – a foreign in context and in terminology.
The most telling incident about this group was that they used Anti-democracy IN ORDER TO PLAY DEMOCRACY!!!The individual person who was responsible to take the radio from EPRP and hand it over to the splinter groups told me in person that he did this because he felt that the splinters’s voices were silenced. Silenced! by whom and how, I asked him. He told me his story and I told him this is not only a civil code of conduct on his part but a criminal act of intent.
As to my dear Mersha’s act for legality and affidavit of support or whatever, I have no knowledge. I wish I could talk to him and I always email him but he does not respond. I wish him well.
As you said I am willing to entertain opposing views and answer questions if they are within my own understanding and capacity. Thanks again.