Wednesday, March 19, 2008
THE CHOICE IS OURS - WE CAN CHANGE THE EPRDF
THE CHOICE IS OURS – WE CAN CHANGE THE EPRDF
Girma Kassa (muziky68@yahoo.com)
"I believe that bringing down Mr. Zenawi is the only way to bring democracy in Ethiopia; so how can we take him down? " emailed me a young Ethiopian student. It seems she may have concluded that with Mr. Zenawi and his party in power there cannot be democracy in Ethiopia.
I truly understand the frustration of this young student for the regime of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi has been one of the major obstacle for peace and democracy in Ethiopia.
However, I would like to address this issue from a different perspective; a perspective that may get me the "weyane" label from among some elements of our communities. I will start by asking some basic questions. Where do we want to reach? What do we want to see in Ethiopia? Do we want to "get rid" the EPRDF? Or do we want to make them part of the solution and get reforms through and with them? What is our ultimate goal?
Once we have answered these questions then come the, follow-ups. How do we achieve these goals? Should there be a major obstacle in our journey how do we deal with it? Which path shall we take and what would be our strategies to reach from where we are now to where we want to be?
I believe most of the time our disputes and quarrel emanates from not clearly identifying first our goals. Lately an article of a former Kinijit/CUD leader triggered some intense discussion on the need of having a "violent/Amtse" struggle to deal with the reality in Ethiopia. [1]I would like to take the debate away from the strategies and towards the goals, for unless we agree on what we want to accomplish we cannot agree on which strategy ought to be taken. To be a physician one would not apply to a law school.
Because of the collassal human right abuses of the EPRDF, many Ethiopians are filled with bitterness and anger towards Mr Zenawi and his comrades. Some are comparing the rulers in Arat Kilo as "Hitlers" and "Idi Amins". I wouldn't blame them. If you ask Ethiopians in Ogaden whose villages were burned down to the ground, students in Ginchi and Ambo who are regularly beaten up by security forces, Families of those who are massacred in plain day light in Gambella and those who have fallen on the streets of Addis Ababa, shot on the head by American trained sharp shooters, friends and families of former TPLF fighters who were eliminated because they internally opposed the leadership … all will tell you one story: that the current rulers in Arat Kilo are soaked with the blood of our people and are taking our country to a possible chaos.
I therefore understand if some groups are focused in waging a struggle to get rid the EPRDF all together. I understand their unequivocal declaration of the EPRDF as the ENEMY that must be destroyed. It is also obvious that these people will logically choose armed struggle as their strategy of struggle to achieve their goals for unless the EPRDF is militarily defeated it is impossible to destroy it. I understand, and will in no way condemn them.
However, I caution these brothers of ours that they see matters from all angles. When we declare the EPRDF as our enemy we are basically saying we are the enemy of ourselves. The EPRDF are products of our society. They are "us". We cannot destroy them unless we destroy ourselves. Therefore the goal to eliminate the EPRDF must not be the goal of Ethiopians.
Yes, many of us are angry and very bitter. But, I believe it is much preferable if our actions not be driven by our anger and bitterness but by our commitment not to repeat the atrocities that caused this very anger that we have. I believe somehow, somewhere we must close the pipeline through which the blood of our brothers and sisters is flowing. I believe our ultimate goal ought to be the establishment of a new United, democratic Ethiopia where the culture of violence will have no place and no-Ethiopian will be killed anymore because of his belief, ethnic group, class and gender.
From all regions in Ethiopia there is a voice coming from the skeletons of our martyrs who had fallen, brutally killed by another Ethiopian. "Enough is enough! Do not use us as an excuse to kill another fellow Ethiopians. Let our sacrifices be a sacred symbol that sends message to everyone that by killing another fellow Ethiopia there cannot be any lasting solution"they are telling us from their resting place. I believe one way to honor Shibere Dessalegn and others, is by committing ourselves to change once and for all the culture of violence.
Some may characterize me as a coward. Make no mistake; I am not calling Ethiopians to be silent, accepting their right and dignity being violated. I am not advocating that we bow down under the feet of Arat Kilo officials. I am not relaying a message of fear nor am I trying to portray the regime as "big" and "powerful".
To the contrary what I am stressing is that we do not go to a law school to be a physician. If we want to achieve our noble objective to see our new Ethiopia, the activism and contribution of each one of us is required. Judge Birtukan Mideksa, Dr Merrara Gudina and very few individuals alone cannot bring this new Ethiopia. Pushing aside and demonizing a section of our society will not bring this new Ethiopia. Day and night cursing the Mr. Zenawi does not bring this new Ethiopia.
What we need is to patiently engage those who are on the wrong side (the EPRDF members) by showing them that the new Ethiopia will not be an Ethiopia where they will be doomed but can be also part of; convince those who have lost hope and are engaged in armed struggle so that they can put down their weapons and come to the struggle of the 21st century; work hard to create the atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect among Ethiopians. What we need is to believe in ourselves, stop relying on westerners and deal with our problems on our own, in a new civilized manner.
We reach to a million counting from 1. The salvation of Ethiopia starts with the salvation of each one of us. Ethiopian will be renewed when each one of us are internally renewed. We are "Ethiopia".
Yes, I believe it is possible to change the EPRDF. Already sources close to the regime are saying that heavy internal discussions are taking place within the EPRDF for more democratic reforms and reconciliation. One key factor that helped to secure the release of CUD leaders six month ago was the pressure from within the EPRDF itself. As we engage more the EPRDF, we are indirectly strengthening the good elements within the party. As Frederick De Clerk came out from the national party, a party that has been the architect of apartheid, good thing may come out from within the EPRDF.
I believe it is possible to convince cessationist groups that the united new Ethiopia is the best for all of us. Already the OLF and ONLF have shown some signals that they may be open to building an Ethiopia where all its citizens are treated as equal. I believe more respectful dialogs and rapprochement with these groups may help avoid prospective future problems.
It may be hard to detach ourselves from the past and soften our heart to those whom we have been grinding our teeth. However that is the only way for the redemption and resurrection of our country. That is the only door to a better future. Unless we are willing to pass through that door, we cannot get out from our misery and desolation. Unless we are willing to forgive and embrace our brothers and sisters will surely remain being doomed forever. If we decline to take this basic step of reconciliation and allow our pride and our past to determine our actions, then WE CAN FORGET ABOUT A COUNTRY CALLED "ETHIOPIA". The choice is ours.
Dr Martin Luther King once said:" we must learn to live one another; otherwise we will all perish together".
May the Lord Open our heart to his Love and Our mind to His Understanding!
[1] http://www.ethioforum.org/wp/pdf/peacefulstrugglerevisited.pdf
"I believe that bringing down Mr. Zenawi is the only way to bring democracy in Ethiopia; so how can we take him down? " emailed me a young Ethiopian student. It seems she may have concluded that with Mr. Zenawi and his party in power there cannot be democracy in Ethiopia.
I truly understand the frustration of this young student for the regime of Prime Minster Meles Zenawi has been one of the major obstacle for peace and democracy in Ethiopia.
However, I would like to address this issue from a different perspective; a perspective that may get me the "weyane" label from among some elements of our communities. I will start by asking some basic questions. Where do we want to reach? What do we want to see in Ethiopia? Do we want to "get rid" the EPRDF? Or do we want to make them part of the solution and get reforms through and with them? What is our ultimate goal?
Once we have answered these questions then come the, follow-ups. How do we achieve these goals? Should there be a major obstacle in our journey how do we deal with it? Which path shall we take and what would be our strategies to reach from where we are now to where we want to be?
I believe most of the time our disputes and quarrel emanates from not clearly identifying first our goals. Lately an article of a former Kinijit/CUD leader triggered some intense discussion on the need of having a "violent/Amtse" struggle to deal with the reality in Ethiopia. [1]I would like to take the debate away from the strategies and towards the goals, for unless we agree on what we want to accomplish we cannot agree on which strategy ought to be taken. To be a physician one would not apply to a law school.
Because of the collassal human right abuses of the EPRDF, many Ethiopians are filled with bitterness and anger towards Mr Zenawi and his comrades. Some are comparing the rulers in Arat Kilo as "Hitlers" and "Idi Amins". I wouldn't blame them. If you ask Ethiopians in Ogaden whose villages were burned down to the ground, students in Ginchi and Ambo who are regularly beaten up by security forces, Families of those who are massacred in plain day light in Gambella and those who have fallen on the streets of Addis Ababa, shot on the head by American trained sharp shooters, friends and families of former TPLF fighters who were eliminated because they internally opposed the leadership … all will tell you one story: that the current rulers in Arat Kilo are soaked with the blood of our people and are taking our country to a possible chaos.
I therefore understand if some groups are focused in waging a struggle to get rid the EPRDF all together. I understand their unequivocal declaration of the EPRDF as the ENEMY that must be destroyed. It is also obvious that these people will logically choose armed struggle as their strategy of struggle to achieve their goals for unless the EPRDF is militarily defeated it is impossible to destroy it. I understand, and will in no way condemn them.
However, I caution these brothers of ours that they see matters from all angles. When we declare the EPRDF as our enemy we are basically saying we are the enemy of ourselves. The EPRDF are products of our society. They are "us". We cannot destroy them unless we destroy ourselves. Therefore the goal to eliminate the EPRDF must not be the goal of Ethiopians.
Yes, many of us are angry and very bitter. But, I believe it is much preferable if our actions not be driven by our anger and bitterness but by our commitment not to repeat the atrocities that caused this very anger that we have. I believe somehow, somewhere we must close the pipeline through which the blood of our brothers and sisters is flowing. I believe our ultimate goal ought to be the establishment of a new United, democratic Ethiopia where the culture of violence will have no place and no-Ethiopian will be killed anymore because of his belief, ethnic group, class and gender.
From all regions in Ethiopia there is a voice coming from the skeletons of our martyrs who had fallen, brutally killed by another Ethiopian. "Enough is enough! Do not use us as an excuse to kill another fellow Ethiopians. Let our sacrifices be a sacred symbol that sends message to everyone that by killing another fellow Ethiopia there cannot be any lasting solution"they are telling us from their resting place. I believe one way to honor Shibere Dessalegn and others, is by committing ourselves to change once and for all the culture of violence.
Some may characterize me as a coward. Make no mistake; I am not calling Ethiopians to be silent, accepting their right and dignity being violated. I am not advocating that we bow down under the feet of Arat Kilo officials. I am not relaying a message of fear nor am I trying to portray the regime as "big" and "powerful".
To the contrary what I am stressing is that we do not go to a law school to be a physician. If we want to achieve our noble objective to see our new Ethiopia, the activism and contribution of each one of us is required. Judge Birtukan Mideksa, Dr Merrara Gudina and very few individuals alone cannot bring this new Ethiopia. Pushing aside and demonizing a section of our society will not bring this new Ethiopia. Day and night cursing the Mr. Zenawi does not bring this new Ethiopia.
What we need is to patiently engage those who are on the wrong side (the EPRDF members) by showing them that the new Ethiopia will not be an Ethiopia where they will be doomed but can be also part of; convince those who have lost hope and are engaged in armed struggle so that they can put down their weapons and come to the struggle of the 21st century; work hard to create the atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect among Ethiopians. What we need is to believe in ourselves, stop relying on westerners and deal with our problems on our own, in a new civilized manner.
We reach to a million counting from 1. The salvation of Ethiopia starts with the salvation of each one of us. Ethiopian will be renewed when each one of us are internally renewed. We are "Ethiopia".
Yes, I believe it is possible to change the EPRDF. Already sources close to the regime are saying that heavy internal discussions are taking place within the EPRDF for more democratic reforms and reconciliation. One key factor that helped to secure the release of CUD leaders six month ago was the pressure from within the EPRDF itself. As we engage more the EPRDF, we are indirectly strengthening the good elements within the party. As Frederick De Clerk came out from the national party, a party that has been the architect of apartheid, good thing may come out from within the EPRDF.
I believe it is possible to convince cessationist groups that the united new Ethiopia is the best for all of us. Already the OLF and ONLF have shown some signals that they may be open to building an Ethiopia where all its citizens are treated as equal. I believe more respectful dialogs and rapprochement with these groups may help avoid prospective future problems.
It may be hard to detach ourselves from the past and soften our heart to those whom we have been grinding our teeth. However that is the only way for the redemption and resurrection of our country. That is the only door to a better future. Unless we are willing to pass through that door, we cannot get out from our misery and desolation. Unless we are willing to forgive and embrace our brothers and sisters will surely remain being doomed forever. If we decline to take this basic step of reconciliation and allow our pride and our past to determine our actions, then WE CAN FORGET ABOUT A COUNTRY CALLED "ETHIOPIA". The choice is ours.
Dr Martin Luther King once said:" we must learn to live one another; otherwise we will all perish together".
May the Lord Open our heart to his Love and Our mind to His Understanding!
[1] http://www.ethioforum.org/wp/pdf/peacefulstrugglerevisited.pdf
