05/15/2006

What kind of opposition do we need?

It has been exactly one year since the historic 3^rd National Elections took place in our country. The 3^rd National Elections were labeled unheard-of not only in our country’s history but in the whole of the African continent. In fact, others strongly believe that it was unparalleled even in old democracies particularly with regard to voter turnout. It was indicative of the fact that the Ethiopian people have expressed their desire to change a government through the ballot box rather than through the barrel of the gun.

The aftermath was, however, tarnished by remiss political leaders who did not care a bit about the import of nurturing the sprouting democratic practice. In fact, they did everything in their capacity to stain the overall picture of the historic elections. Their sole agenda was assuming political power by any means possible rather than adding their share to the emerging democratic culture. I am referring to the leaders of the CUD, the biggest coalition, that got the highest number of seats in the parliament next to the ruling partly. It was unfortunate that the coalition fell into the wrong hands and was headed by few irresponsible individuals, particularly the incompetent, power thirsty and thoughtless chairman of the party and a few of his henchmen.

 It was unfortunate that this political party turned the hopes and aspirations of the Ethiopian people including myself upside down. It was unfortunate that the popular party was led by individuals who subscribed to inept and hopeless hardliners across the Atlantic and in Western Europe rather than relying on the Ethiopian people and the FDRE Constitution, which they depended on in order to contest in the elections and at the same time considered worthless. Their intent was to come to power through it and then throw it into the trash bin and this was their open agenda. The Almighty God, the God of our early fathers, saved us all and our country from the so-called intellectuals, who failed to lead the people that elected them. It was unfortunate that the leaders of this party changed their role in the middle of the course and asked the electorate to lead them – zemene girimbit’. Eventually, their choice of the wrong paths has taken them into unfathomable abyss. They were pleaded and implored to seize the golden opportunity by the government and by visionary people (as well as some papers, the Reporter being the prime one), but they rebuffed the entreaty. Consequently, two sets of unwanted violence resulted in the deaths of citizens and the destruction of property. The first one was forgiven to give peace a chance and to promote the evolving democratic process. There is a Chinese proverb which reads, “If he cheats me once, shame on him; if twice, shame on me.” The government has the duty to keep rule and order and could not allow subsequent rounds of violence and bloodshed to take place. We all know where the irresponsible leaders of the opposition currently are for their transgression.

The country needs opposition political parties that do not turn down the hopes and aspirations of their electorate and the general populace. Our motherland needs political parties that do not consider the Constitution less worthy of the ink and paper with which it was written. She rather needs those that look up to the Constitution with reverence and veneration. She does not need political parties that fail to lead the people who elect them. There is nothing so ignominious for leaders of a political party as turning down the desire and ambition of their constituencies. Our country does not need political parties that are manipulated with a remote control by irresponsible hardliners who have been committing matricide and fratricide throughout their lives. They know where they really belong if they were to go back to the country unless their likes are in power and that was exactly what they were trying to achieve. What is more, our country doesn’t need political parties that can only see the negative sides of a ruling party. It is important that they try to see both the strengths and weaknesses so that they can offer both words of encouragement and rebuke. Mother Ethiopia does not need political parties that befriend her ardent enemies and form alliance with rogue governments like the dictatorial regime in Eritrea, which stabbed her on the back. (We, of course, need to distinguish between the government and the Eritrean people. It only takes the removal of the brute dictator and his henchmen for the sisterly ties of the two countries and the two peoples to be commenced and maintained.)

It is high time that the new leaders of the CUD came to their senses and started working on what is good to the country and to the people. They need to show maturity in all their actions taking lessons from the grave mistakes their former leaders committed. It is also high time that the unfortunate vocal Diaspora (as opposed to the silent majority) stopped engagement in destructive acts and started contributing constructively to their country. They have been bellowing for the whole of last year (and for the last fifteen years more generally) to no purpose. They need to reflect a bit on their actions and ask themselves if it is something worth the time, effort and money they are spending. They need to ask themselves whether what they have been engaged in is of any good to the country that they boast to love. They need to wonder if calling and staging a serious of demonstrations is worth the outcome. They have been doing this for quite so long especially those in the Washington D.C. area at the premises of the White House and the Capitol Hill, but did they achieve anything tangible and anything to the benefit of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian people? NOTHING! They could have used their time for educating themselves and contributing positively to their country. ‘Yaltaddele Tiwlid!’ The insanity should come to an end! Otherwise, leave our country and us alone!

On the side of the government, it seems that they have at last come to their right state of mind. I would dare say that they were slumbering for some years a bit before and a bit after the Eritrean invasion. At the moment, however, we see that policies and strategic plans appear to be in place. They deserve the support and approval from sensible Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia for what they are currently doing and for what they plan to do in the next four years. As far as I’m concerned, I can say with confidence that they are on the right track. It seems that the hurdles and obstacles are already identified and are being gotten rid off. Provided that the five-year strategic plan is implemented, there is going to be radical transformation in our country and this should fill us all with bliss. Economic growth and development endeavors observed in the last three years are indicative of the fact that the EPRDF leadership is cognizant of the pitfall in the past and is leading the country to a bright future and anyone who truly loves Ethiopia should be in high spirits about this. As sustainability is central to the development effort and strenuous our fight again poverty, our government should seriously take this as a priority.

At last, we need to pray for those who are blinded to see the reality because of hate so that they can instead embrace love, and as we optimists do, envisage a bright future. In addition, we pray that the Almighty God would open their eyes, bring them back to their sanity so that they can support their country and their people in whatever way possible and put in their share to the country that equally belongs to us all.

Tsahma

Tsahma@yahoo.com