Myopic and insecure leadership takes us nowhere

Fourteen years of the government of EPRDF, by EPRDF and for EPRDF has not led to a more democratic, stable and prosperous Ethiopia. There may have been some improvements here and there, may be mostly there, but not nationwide. Certainly, the political structure and culture is dominated by EPRDF with token opposition members in parliament. It boggles the mind why so many EPRDF members of parliament are needed if they vote lock-step with the Prime Minister's view. They take up seats in the halls of parliament but have forgotten to effecitively use their God-given brain to think and arrive at a decision beneficial to their constituents even if it is contrary to their party's position.

EPRDF is a communist party which masquarades as democratic by virtue of the existence of opposition parties and the often harassed not-so-free press as long as its grip on power is not threatened. If you remember, the communist party claimed to know what is best for the people without considering what the people really wanted. This is the story of EPRDF's leadership through the last fourteen years. Narrowly focused and arrogantly confident in its 'all-knowing' power, it has no room for the views of others. Compromise is considered as defeat and surrender in the eyes of the EPRDF leadership regardless of its benefits for citizens.

Even though EPRDF pretends to be confident of the rightness of its ideas and policies, its insecurity is evident by the brutal actions it takes against Ethiopian citizens with every little challenge of its ideas and policies. That is the only way to explain the killing, jailing and harrassment of journalists, opposition party leaders and citizens alike.

Yesterday, I happen to watch BBC World news program and they showed government videotape of the rock throwing incident that supposedly ignited the government crackdown. This government, with all its military machinery, was so threatened by rock throwing youth, it turned the guns meant for securing the borders of the country on its own citizens. This government is so insecure, it drags opposition party leaders to court, claiming that they tried to overthrow the government. One would ask by what means are they trying to overthrow the government, with their bare hands? Now, it has charged them with treason and boasts that it has evidence supporting this outrageous charge. The only thing this show trial proves is that EPRDF can not handle fair competition, so it has to silence the challengers.

On the same program, the Prime Minister was asked if he still believed that Ethiopia's democracy is still a model for Africa. His response was, "We are not trying to be role models but are trying to do what is right for our country." This reminds me of some famous basketball player, who said "I am not a role model", when he failed to live up to the public expectation. The Prime Minister is a leader of a party that has failed to recognize doing the right thing for the country requires listening to the people of the country. What is a country without its people? How can a party, which is impermeable to the idea of others, be expected to do what is right to Ethiopia and the people of Ethiopia? The honest answer is it can not without significant change in its vision for the country.

Ethiopia needs leaders

• who recognize that the government is to serve the people not the other way around.
• who understand that people regardless of their status in life have inherent worth and value just because they are God's creation.
• who have a vision and are able to rally the support of the people rather than ram their vision at gun point.
• who can work with opposition members and citizens so that the best ideas and policies are implemented with the long-term interest of the people and of the country in mind.
• who know how to use the diversity to bring out the best in all its citizens.

The EPRDF government is pressed from within, despite the facade of calm, and from without. It can continue on its current path which leads to further alienation or it can reverse course by releasing all political prisoners without condition and sit down and discuss the future of the country in good faith. We hope for the best with our eyes open.

Champions again

The Ethiopian national football team has successfully defended its title as CECAFA challenge cup champions defeating Rwanda. The final score was Ethiopia 1 Rwanda 0.

Congratulations! to the Ethiopian national football Team on the job well done.

We want to stop corruption but don't shine the light on us!

The Ethiopia News Agency (ENA) has published a few articles marking the International Anti-Corruption day, Friday, December 9, 2005. One of the titles declares International Anti Corruption Day Celebrated in Ethiopia . I agree that corruption needs to be dealt with for a host of reasons such as economic progress, fairness in the political process and efficient service delivery to name a few. But I wonder if the celebration is more for foreign consumption than anything else. Here is an excerpt from the above article:

According to Addisu Ethiopia has demonstrated its commitment to the battle waged against corruption in sending delegations to take part in international and continental events pertinent to anti-corruption.

The EPRDF government shows its commitment to the war on corruption (WOC) by sending delegations to various events overseas. You would think it is a joke if it were not true. This government harasses and jails anyone from journalists in the private press to political leaders and citizens who dared to speak against it at home. As usual, the EPRDF pretends to be one thing for foreigners and another thing for its own citizens. The motto for this global WOC is "You Can Stop Corruption." Well, I don't have such confidence in a government as corrupt as the EPRDF.

If the EPRDF is serious about the WOC, they should give journalists from the public as well as the private press access to decision makers as well as documents that are not classified for security purposes. A truly free press is one essential asset if the EPRDF wants to fight corruption. Harassing and jailing journalists in the private press leads reasonable people to suspect that the government has something to hide.

In the case of the election of May 15, 2005, these warriors of corruption should have made the electoral process resistant to fraud as much as possible. This is too much to hope for from a government that has no intention of relinquishing power.

When the CUD challenged the results of the election, the EPRDF rather than making every effort to assure the voters that their votes have been counted according to their preference, it started a campaign of terror in the name of law and order to cover its fraud. Terrorizing citizens continues to this day.

The EPRDF has monopolized the economic sector by creating, formally or informally, companies whose success depends on it which frustrates investment by local entrepreneurs. If this is not corruption, what is?

EPRDF is willing to fight in the WOC as long as the light is not shining on its workings. What a shame! The light will shine and the truth and magnitude of EPRDF's corruption will come out sooner or later.

In other news...

Ethiopian Soccer Team

The Ethiopian national team is into the finals of the CECAFA tournament in Rwanda beating Zanzibar 4-0. Uganda and hosts Rwanda will play for the remaining spot in the finals. I am a sports fan and would like to see the Ethiopian team repeat as champions. I am sure another CECAFA championship will bring some joy to the hearts of all sport-loving Ethiopians. I wish the Ethiopian team all the best in their final match. Win or lose I have great admiration for these young men representing Ethiopia at this critical juncture with class and dignity.

Ethiopian for Winter Olympics

No, I did not make a mistake. There is an Ethiopian training to represent Ethiopia in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. His name is Robel Teklemariam and is featured in For Ethiopian, the ski's the limit. Currently, there is one person on the Ethiopian Ski Team as per the Ethiopian Ski Federation website. Hopefully, Robel's effort will encourage those who have interest in and access to skiing to be part of this new team.

I myself enjoy skiing even if it has been a while since my last visit to the ski slopes. I find his story encouraging and hope he will be successful in his efforts. Robel is raising funds so he can travel to the Olympics and I am sure he would appreciate any help from Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopa to make his dreams come true. I will certainly look forward to watching the Winter Olympics, this time I will be rooting for Ethiopia.

A Luta Continua: until revolutionary democarcy is history

The demonstrations and appeals around the world are bearing some fruit. This article from The Observer , which I quote in part below, brings two points home to me. One, donors (Britain as well as EU) are having second thoughts about supporting this brutal government which shows that the pressure from outside is having an effect and we need to intensify the effort.

Embarrassed by what it has called 'disproportionate' use of force by Ethiopian police, Britain is withholding some £20 million in aid. While the British ambassador declined to be interviewed Clark, himself a Briton, was unusually frank.

The EU has aid projects in Ethiopia that are worth more than €1 billion and Clark warned that those projects were under review subject to the government's response. Clark said: "We've been hearing from Dedesa camp about atrocities taking place. It's extremely worrying. We have not witnessed anything like this in Ethiopia before.'

Secondly, the brutality of the government led by Meles Zenawi is increasingly laid bare for all to see.

Five months after Ethiopia descended into political chaos following a dispute over the country's first democratic elections, details are emerging that give a disturbing glimpse into the scale of human rights abuses taking place. One man who had endured 19 days of almost constant beatings at the hands of Ethiopia's security forces is Dereje. 'The federal police beat us with batons and big sticks,' he said. 'A man was shot in his leg, but he got no medication. People lost their eyes and had their feet smashed. Many people were suffering there.'

He was referring to Dedesa camp, a former military base, in the far west of Ethiopia, where thousands of detainees have been dumped in recent weeks as part of a massive and unprecedented crackdown by Ethiopian security forces. Few are prepared to talk but Dereje agreed to do so. He was picked up by federal police in Addis Ababa in early November, but is not sure why, as he has no links to any political party or protests. He was stuffed inside a truck with 150 other men and wedged under a pile of mattresses. Three men suffocated to death on the way to the camp.

Once there, he says, several men, weakened by hunger and malaria, were beaten mercilessly by the guards even as they urinated. He says he knew of at least 30 who died, their bodies taken away to an unknown location for burial. He discovered from overhearing conversations between two police guards that there were at least 43,000 detainees in the camp.

This is also a result of the organized protests and appeals of Ethiopians all around the world. But we have a long way to go. Now, we hear that there are other such camps where citizens, whose only crime is to support the opposition to EPRDF, are being held. So, we need to continue to inform donor governments, organizations and people of goodwill about the true nature of and the plight of those unjustly imprisoned and have lost their lives at the hands of this government.

I am encouraged by the letter I received from one of my senators in the United States Senate in response to an email I sent him in early November. I intend to send a follow up letter with updated information. It is possible to make headway in winning others to our side because the truth is on our side. I have copied the email from my senator in hope of encouraging others to write their elected representatives regarding the current situtation in Ethiopia. If you do write, please do write factual and courteous letters or emails pointing out the fact that the interests of the United States in the war on terror is best served by a democratic government in Ethiopia and urging them to stand with the Ethiopian people in their struggle for democracy. Be persistent.

Thank you for contacting me regarding U.S. foreign policy toward Ethiopia. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Since 1991, the U.S. has provided more than $3 billion in aid to Ethiopia. Among other things, these funds have supported programs aimed at reducing the transmission of HIV/AIDS, combating hunger, reducing poverty, and encouraging economic and social reforms. The U.S. has also provided funds for training the Ethiopian military in areas such as the laws of war and observance of human rights.

As the horrific events of September 11th and the continuing terrorist activities worldwide have illustrated, our domestic security is related to the economic and political stability of other nations. U.S. foreign aid is critical to helping Ethiopia ensure a better future for its citizens.

I am concerned by any reports of human rights abuses by the Ethiopian government. Human rights violations not only harm the citizens they are perpetrated against, they also threaten the development of democratic societies. To prevent these types of abuses, we must encourage compliance with international standards on human rights and consider Ethiopia's record on human rights in our diplomatic relationships and in determining future levels of foreign and military aid.

Thank you again for contacting me. I will continue to monitor the situation in Ethiopia, and I will keep your thoughts in mind as these issues come before the Senate.

Sincerely,

Carl Levin

Just in case anyone doubts that we have a long and hard struggle ahead of us, this is what the shameless Prime Minister has to say in The Observer article cited above.

'I've always been convinced that democratisation in Ethiopia is not only a matter of choice but of survival. We shall persist with our democratic reforms, no matter the challenges we will face along the way.'

It is not hard to guess whose survival the PM is talking about. He believes his way to democratization is the only way. So, the meaning should be clear to all when he says he shall persist with his democratic reforms. The more the pressure against his rule, the greater his brutality becomes. He will do anything to keep himself in power as he has done in the past.

We don't care about the survival of the PM or his party. We care about the freedom of our people. We don't want a democracy that revolves around one person or party (a.k.a. revolutionary democracy) but rather a democracy that revolves around and respects the voice of the people.

No weapon will defeat a people determined to be free!
We shall overcome!

The constitution meets reality

I have been looking into Ethiopia's constitution and its relevance to events in the recent past. The constitution spells out, with some specificity, the rights citizens have. It is sad and frustrating that, time and again, those in power ignore the provisions of the constitution just to hang on to power. For any serious observer of the EPRDF government's practice, the citizens enjoy the rights in the constitution only if the Prime Minister agrees to it. The constitution should, therefore, be amended to indicate the supremacy of the Prime Minister as opposed to what is in Article 9. I have taken some liberty in suggesting the revision so what happens in Ethiopia can clearly be understood.

Article 9
Supremacy of the Constitution
1. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Any law, customary practice or a decision of an organ of state or a public official which contravenes this Constitution shall be of no effect.

2. All citizens, organs of state, political organizations, other associations as well as their officials have the duty to ensure observance of the Constitution and to obey it.

3. It is prohibited to assume state power in any manner other than that provided under the Constitution.

4. All international agreements ratified by Ethiopia are an integral part of the law of the land.

Revised Article 9
Supremacy of the Prime Minister
1. The Prime Minister is the supreme law of the land. Any law, customary practice or a decision of an organ of state or a public official which contravenes this Prime
Minister shall be of no effect.

2. All citizens, organs of state, political organizations, other associations as well as their officials have the duty to ensure adherence to the Prime Minister and to obey the Prime Minister.

3. It is prohibited to assume state power in any manner other than that provided by the Prime Minister.

4. All international agreements ratified by the Prime Minister are an integral part of the law of the land.

Article 15

Right to Life

Every person has the right to life. No person may be deprived of his life except as a punishment for a serious criminal offence determined by law.

Revised Article 15:
Every person has the right to life. No person may be deprived of his life except as a punishment for a serious offence to the Prime Minister and as determined by, of course, the Prime Minister.

Article 17

Right to Liberty

No one shall be deprived of his or her liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.

No person may be subjected to arbitrary arrest, and no person may be detained without a charge or conviction against him.

Revised Article 17:
No one shall be deprived of his or her liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by the Prime Minister.

No person may be subjected to arbitrary arrest, and no person may be detained without a charge or conviction against him except by the consent of the Prime Minister.

The change could go on but I will stop here.

In all seriousness, there is a lot to like in the constitution even if it is not applied as it should be. I believe there are areas that need amending such as article 39 (I will try to look at it another day).

At the moment, leaders are arrested for no other reason than encouraging their supporters to peacefully express their dissatisfaction over the election results; other have been arrested en masse for believing in the constitution’s guarantee of right to life, liberty and assembly and exercising it. It may be difficult to hope for better days in the face such oppression. But we should not give up hope. Rather, those of us who have the privilege of living in freedom should continue to be the voice of those whose voice is muzzled by a tyrant as they peacefully struggle for democracy.

I look forward to the day when the constitution means what it says and all persons including the Prime Minister are equal under the law. I look forward to a day where the people’s tears over random government killing and over mass arrests of their loved ones are but a distant memory. I have hope because tyrants don’t live forever and the Almighty God is on His Throne.