How can a killer condemn a killing

First and foremost, I would like to express my condolence to the families of the dead and injured as a result from the street violence of Ethiopia. Secondly, even though I personally believe that the cause of this mass unrest and violence was due to the wrong method of resolving problems chosen by the leadership of Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), and at the same time that it is also understandable that the government has the duty and responsibility  in protecting the lives and properties of the people, I sincerely appeal to the Ethiopian government to use other means than excessive force in restoring law and order in the country.

Dear readers, it is not secret that the state media in Eritrea have been intensified than ever in covering news of the street violence in Ethiopia. TV-Eri, Dimtsi-hafash, Hadas-Eritrea, state owned websites etc.  are fully engaged in orchestrating about the street violence in Ethiopian, more than the Ethiopian opposition medias. Is this incidental or a long planned instigation? There are rumors that Isayas might pay millions of dollars to create havoc in Ethiopia as he did before through the governmentless state of Somalia. I am sure hundred percent,  if the CUD leaders accept his offer,  Mr. Isayas will not hesitate to do it. However, I don’t  want to write something based on speculation (rumor) rather than to leave this for time.

But, what I want to say is: As a thief can’t condemn a theft and a liar can’t condemn a lie, a killer can’t condemn a killing. How can Mr. Isayas condemn a killing? He came all the way to power by killing different groups and individuals: ‘the menkae group’ (intellectuals), ‘the yemin group’ (the rightist), the at war disabled veterans of Mai-Habar, the massacre of Addi Abeyto and those who are dying in different prison camps at this time. How can Mr. Isayas speak in favor of democracy while he is the most brutal dictator in the region?

Actually what made me write this short article is,  when I read a biased article, “Why Ethiopia Zenawi may ignite war against Eritrea?” written by Yohannes Woldemariam, posted on Sudan Tribune and reposted on Meskerem.net: http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=12433

Brother Yohannes said (I will summarize shortly on my own words) that the “TPLF regime” (the Ethiopian government) will use the armed forces to crackdown the domestic conflict. In doing so the Ethiopian armed forces will be divided on ethnic base: Amharas. Oromos Tigrians etc. To divert the domestic conflict and keep the armed forces united, he said that the prime minister will ignite war against Eritrea.

If  Mr. Yohannes was not biased, he could have argued the other way round too. To exploit the present situation in Ethiopia, can’t Mr. Isayas who has good experience in this matter ignite the war? Isn’t it true that he himself has said until now, that he can’t wait any more if the UN can’t help him in demarcating the border, meaning that he will use force to get back Badme? I call such analysis actually: Isayas’s vision (‘tnbite Isayas’)

What is ‘tnbite Isayas’ (Isayas’s vision)?

When Mr. Isayas and his groups split from the ELF in 1970, he wrote a booklet called ‘nhnan alamanan’ (we and our objectives). In that booklet he wrote clearly that ELF will be dissolved (liquidated) (‘amma (ELF)kthaqiq eya’) at last EPLF will be the winner. That any group or force which stands against the EPLF will be diminished. In deed some of ‘tnbite Isayas’ are implemented. ELF was dissolved. The ‘menkae’ and ‘yemin’ groups were liquidated. All individuals who opposed Mr. Isayas are either killed or imprisoned. What a perfect vision!!

When Mr. Isayas had conflict with Ethiopia, he stated his vision clearly too. He said openly ‘e’ta abay Ethiopia ktbetaten eya’ (the big Ethiopia will be disintegrated) and he tried to translate his vision into reality through Somalia, using all different groups: Al-Entahad, OLF (ONEG) etc. But fortunately he couldn’t succeed. Mr. Isayas  always expects his success from the weakness of his enemy. He doesn’t try to make himself stronger economically and politically so as other leaders do, but he always tries to instigate evil things against his neighbors. What happened to Ethiopia is not different to the Sudan. That’s why I called the analysis of our brother Yohannes, Isayas’s vision: “the Ethiopian armed forces will be divided and Ethiopia will be weakened”. If all evil wishes were succeeded the world would destroyed.

When I love my people and my country, it should not be at the cost of  hatred of my neighbors. In fact a democratic and stable Ethiopia or Sudan is our advantage as a neighbor.

I was following the Third Ethiopian National Election closely. I wrote a couple of articles on it before and after the election. I just want to give a short comment as an Eritrean on the present conflict raised from the election controversy .

CUD has missed a golden opportunity:

Even though we know exactly that most of the Ethiopian opposition parties do not support the existence of Eritrea as a state, the Eritrean people as victims of dictatorship want to have a democratic and stable Ethiopia as a neighbor. We want to see a multiparty system working in our neighbor.

There is no question, before the election day,  things went smoothly. There was no limit on the democratic rights of the opposition parties in their preparation for the election day. More than 56% of the time state media was given to the opposition parties. All of them including Cud chose legal and peaceful means in implementing their political aspirations. During and after the election allegations and counter allegation of election irregularities and party members intimidation increased from time to time. Recounting and even reelection went underway in some constituencies. After intensive mediation the ruling and opposition parties agreed in principle to abide by the rules and regulations of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and at the end to accept the results of the election. CUD  got 109 seats in the house of representatives and UEDF from 12 seats in the second election got 52 seats.

Well, we can not say there were not irregularities and fraud at all. Even the most democratically advanced countries have yet such short comings. The question is : Should CUD choose street violence than peaceful and legal means? Getting 109 seats at once is not a simple achievement. The leaders of CUD must see the interest of the people prior to  political power. I think CUD has missed a golden opportunity.

The bottom line is, the leadership of CUD is using wrong method of democratization process. Normally, here in the democratic countries, if a party participates in a national election, it accepts the result of the election and joins the parliamentary democracy to struggle for its political vision. At times even the party protests in order to compromise with the ruling party(parties) on issues. But most importantly,  the relationship between the ruling  and  opposition parties in the parliamentary process is based on partnership and not on adversary. 

If we take the case of Ethiopia, the ruling party has recognized and allowed all parties to participate in the election. Cud won 109 seats. But CUD could not accept the results, because of the irregularities during the election. The international observers such as the European Union and Carter Center admitted that there were irregularities and said did not meet international standard. But that does not mean the EPRDF could and did not win at all. That’s why almost all head states and leaders of the world have recognized the present government by congratulating the prime minister for his third term in office.

The main point here is, the CUD leadership has not recognized the ruling party as a winner. Nor has it accepted the result of the election. In fact all supporters of CUD in the diasporas consider the ruling party as illegal. Openly, they use violence inciting languages to overthrow  the “illegal government” (please visit ethiomedia.com: the main website of CUD). To be honest, I think these two parties cannot be partners of the on going democratic process in this situation. In reality they are adversaries of each other. It is amazing. When a ruling party recognizes an opposition party, the opposition doesn’t. It is contrary to the Eritrean situation. ‘enat yalew siyaleqs, enat lelielew liyasleqs new’ (when one who has a mother cries, it is for the one who does not have a mother to make cry) 

Worst of all, some party members and supporters in the diasporas are losing  responsibility to what will happen in side the country as a result of their acts. It is not my habit to mention individual names nor do I use slanderous and defamatory languages in my articles. But when I read the book written by the toothless old politician, Mr. Negede Gobezie, and at the same time I remember those friends of mine who were slaughtered during the Red Terror waged by MEISON under the leadership of this man, I really can’t control my emotion.  I was a student at that time. Mr. Negede living in a safe place, Brussels,  not far from the house of European parliament wrote a book which teaches people to overthrow the Ethiopian government using street violence and mass unrest. The poor children will die, the rich Gebezie’s children will go to school and come to power at the fruit of change. Is this the popular revolution of Mr. Gobezie?

Finally, I think for these two parties (the ruling and CUD) to work together in the parliament, they have to have  trust of each other. To be frank, to build trust, CUD has to change its strategy of democratization and the ruling party should have more tolerance keeping its doors open for dialogue. Even now, it is not too late. My suggestion for the best interest of the Ethiopian people is:

1. CUD has to stop all its supporters from inciting violence everywhere, especially in the diasporas, so that a sphere of calm and trust building can be created.

2. The ruling party should release all detainees of all parties.

3. CUD must recognize the ruling party as a winner of the election. This will create more trust between the two parties.

4. The government has to allow an independent inquiry of the deaths, injuries and lost properties. It is a good sign that the government has already said that it is willing to do this.

5. CUD should accept the results of the election and take its seats in the parliament.

6. The EPRDF party should review some of the parliamentary rules and regulations to create easily participation of all parties.

7. The other differences can be cleared out in give and take compromises among the parties in the parliamentary process.

I wish peace and stability will prevail in our region as a whole.

Adhanom  Fitiwi (from Holland)

09-11-2005