The Imposters!

In 2005 Dr. Birhanu was selling himself as a moderate, the better man of the opposition. He has good relation with the ruling party, to the point where a single phone call to can fix a problem perceived by the opposition, and a potential to influence the opposition. Unfortunately, the Dr squandered the historic opportunity. Unbecoming of a Dr., he acted like a Merkato hustler, playing the ruling party, especially the condor of Bereket, double crossing UEDP-Medhin, and ending up locking in power grab with AEUP.

His own party members have stated the power monger he is. He may have hustled his way to America thinking he will “lead opposition delegates,” but with out Hailu it is unthinkable in the eyes of the extreme diaspora, as Dr. Taye puts it "coming to America is like deserting a leader in a battle ground.”You are good as long as you are an errand boy.A stint in “Kality” is not enough of a pedigree to equal hundred years of sense of entitlement. And one should have had a better sense than trying to take power form “chauvinist” with turncoats as foot solders.

There is no “impasse” as the Dr. will like us to believe. If the CUD wants to be goaded by EPRP once again and engage in the same militancy and extremism then it is not the problem of the Ethiopian government. Ethiopia has moved and those who were in prison understood this fact and had signed taking responsibility for trying to remove the constitutional order of the country. If he thinks “the apology letter is” free ticket out of jail only to re-enact the post election saga, he better think again for his won sake. If he still thinks democracy is show for “Ferenge” and he can play a character, or as a provider of 25% “loyal opposition” parliamentary seat, a conspiracy he is implicated to have been engaged by the “Militant CUD”, he is mistaken.

The Diaspora opposition may be in dire situation that its “tilik Sew” are “Comedians” and “karaoke singers” but Ethiopia is not in a situation where “Ayer Be-Ayer Negades” (rent-seeking) politicians are pampered to a point where they feel they are indispensable and abdicate any responsibility to the process. For the Mehal sefari any bad news is good news. They thrive in the misfortunes of the country because they will be perceived in good light. The Dr. has not learned yet, his last books team was “Ene eshalachihu-alehu” (better deal with me than them blackmail) where every resignation of a parliamentarian, any news of disgruntled youth joining those who raise arms is taken as a proof that they hold the key to Ethiopia’s peace and stability.

Low and behold! Ethiopia is not in short order of who would play genuine role in fostering democracy. The genuine democrats in the opposition who were ostracized in the last two years are being heard for the right road they have followed. It may be a redeeming quality of the 2005 election, but the role of the “Shimagles” and their ambitious “Network of Shimagles” is more than promising. The Civil Society is raising its head, and unlike the wishes of anarchist EPRP who see them as battle grounds to overthrow a government, it is starting to play constructive role in building democratic institutions.
Have an appreciation for the effort being done to build democracy. Stand up and be counted. The strategy of “Ene Eshalachihu-alehu” is “Yetebelabet.”